Crystal Growing Collection

Crystals

Sulfates

Lithium sulfate Potassium sulfate Copper Sulfate Sodium ammonium sulfate Triglycine Sulfate Hexakis(carbamide) Zinc Sulfate

Sulfates are salts of the sulfuric acid H2SO4. Many of them are a good material for growing crystals, because of their stability and solubility.

Sulfuric acid also forms salts or adducts with some organic compounds and complex ions.

Double sulfates: Tutton's salts

There are many sulfates that have 2 different metals in it, in stoichiometric proportion. They form several families of similar compounds. Tutton's salts are compounds of general formula: MI2MII(SO4)2·6H2O, where MI and MII stand for univalent and bivalent anions. In mineralogy, they are called schoenites.

Double sulfates: bloedite family

Bloedites are similar to Tutton's salts (schoenites), but have 4 molecules of water instead of 6. They also can include Na ions.

Double sulfates: alums

Alums are the family of similar double sulfates of general formula: MIMIII(SO4)2·12H2O, where MI and MIII stand for univalent and trivalent anions. MI is usually one of K, NH4 but can be other: Na, Rb, Tl. Trivalent metal MIII is usually one of Al3+, Fe3+, Cr3+.

  • Potassium aluminum sulfate KAl(SO4)2·12H2O, usually called just "alum" or potassium alum. The most representative member of this family.
  • Sodium aluminum sulfate NaAl(SO4)2·12H2O is a sodium analog of the above compound. Sodium ion radius is very different from potassium, which makes this alum way less stable.
  • Ammonium aluminum sulfate NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O, less common compound that is visually indistinguishable from the potassium salt.
  • Ammonium iron(III) sulfate NH4Fe(SO4)2·12H2O, or ferric alum.

Phosphates

Salts of phosphoric acid H3PO4.

Acetates

Salts of acetic acid. Most acetates are soluble, but few of them are suitable for growing nice crystals.

Nitrates

Salts of nitric acids HNO3. Most of nitrates are extremely soluble in water and deliquescent, which makes them badly suited for growing.

Chlorides

Oxalate complexes

Alumooxalates

Alumooxalates are salts of the complex anion [Al(C2O4)3]3+. They are colorless crystalline solids.

Ferrioxalates

Ferrioxalates are salts of the complex anion [Fe(C2O4)3]3+, they have beautiful green color, unusual for iron (III) compounds. They are slightly light sensitive and must be stored in dark place.

Sulfamates (amidosulfonates)

Sulfamic (also known as amidosulfonic) acid is a moderately strong inorganic acid HSO3NH2. Its primary household use is a descaler agent. Unlike sulfuric acid, it is solid. Almost all sulfamates have extremely high solubility.

Organic

  • Urea citrate CO(NH2)2·C3H4(OH)(COOH)3 cocrystal of urea and citric acid.
  • Saccharin Free acid of saccharin, insoluble in water.
  • Sodium saccharin Sodium salt of saccharin, once popular sugar substitute.
  • Erythritol C4H10O5 another sugar alcohol, lighter cousin of a xylitol.
  • Xylitol C5H12O5 sugar alcohol, used as sugar substitute.
  • MannitolC6H14O6 another sugar alcohol.
  • Glucose sodium chloride 2C6H12O6·NaCl·H2O cocrystal of glucose and table salt NaCl
  • Glucose sodium bromide 2C6H12O6·NaBr·H2O heavier sibling of the above compound, cocrystal of glucose and NaBr

Aminoacid salts

Various inorganic