Sugar was a rare luxury in Medieval times. It was used as a miracle cure against all kinds of aches and pains, which isn’t as odd as it may seem because sugar produces a sense of well-being in the brain. We now know that sugar won’t cure diseases, but if you do this rock candy experiment, you can learn a thing or two while you enjoy something sweet.

Equipment

  • 150 ml water
  • 500 g brown or white sugar
  • Thin sticks, such as skewers
  • A large jar, for example from jam or another container that is compatible with hot liquid
  • Tape, a sponge or clothes pin
  • Cling wrap

Instructions

  1. Dissolve the sugar in the water by heating it on the stove top
  2. Pour it into the jar once everything has dissolved
  3. Cover the opening of the jar with cling wrap
  4. Poke 2-3 skewers through the wrap, making sure that they don’t reach the bottom of the jar. Use tape to make them thicker over the cling wrap, so that they hang like this. Or attach a clothespin or sponge to the skewers to secure them in the correct position
  5. Let it stand like this for 1-2 weeks and pay attention to the development

What happens?

The sugar molecules were dissolved in the water when you heated it. Hot water has more room for sugar than cold water. As the liquid cools, some sugar molecules are pushed out of the solution. They land on the skewers instead, forming beautiful sugar crystals.

Sugar was a rare luxury in Medieval times. It was used as a miracle cure against all kinds of aches and pains, which isn’t as odd as it may seem because sugar produces a sense of well-being in the brain. We now know that sugar won’t cure diseases, but if you do this rock candy….Click to read more