Q&A for How to Make Baking Soda Crystals

You can, but it probably will not cool as well; this will result in poor-quality or malformed crystals.

Some can, but it depends on the amount of water and the quality of the baking soda.

Baking soda crystals can keep growing for weeks.

Keep adding baking soda until the water no longer dissolves it.

No, you will not be able to make stalactites or stalagmites if you try growing them in a cup.

Cups are just an example. Any item can be used as long as it's small but has enough space for the baking soda crystals to grow. Consider using objects such as containers, jars, or glass bottles if you don't have or don't want to use cups.

Yes, you could. You may need to use more solution to get a sponge that is fully covered with crystals, because it has a larger surface area than string. Don't squeeze the sponge after you have grown the crystals, because they will fall off and break.

Calcium chloride and baking soda make a chemical reaction, not crystals. Just using baking soda works. If you want different crystals, try using sugar, salt, alum and Epsom salts.

Yes, crystals will form on the wire as the solution cools, causing the soda molecules to arrange into patterns.

It depends on how many crystals you want and the effect you wish to achieve.

You can leave baking soda on clothes for as little as an hour or overnight, depending on how much time you have.

Common substances include ether, alcohol, benzene, disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, and acetone.

Baking powder can be a suitable alternative; just be sure to know the proper conversion.

Crystals will eventually melt if they are heated to their characteristic melting point.

To make stalagmites or stalactites, dissolve baking soda in hot tap water until it no longer dissolves. Add food coloring if desired, and pour the saturated solution into jars. Wet the string to start the formation process.