Science quiestion! NEED HELP! ;O! ?

Question

Im doing a science experiment with salt water. I've allowed the salt water to evaporate at different temperatures. One above a heater, one in a warm room and one in a cold room. The salt crystals formed from coldest room are the largest. But i have a few questions... here they are.

1) why do the crystals form an X ?

2) why are the X's in squares ?

3) why are some larger than others ?

4) why did different heat produce different textures ?

please help!! ;)

Thankyou!!

Answer 1

What X's and what squares?

Please remember we cannot see what you do.

Salt (NaCl) always forms the same crystal shape (body centered cubic) regardless of the source.   The crystals may look different simply because some have grown larger than others.  Crystalization depends on a lot of factors including the temperature which may be different in different locations.

Answer 2

Sounds like you need to do some more experiments.  Start by analyzing the structure of salt maybe, or looking at the crystals under a microscope to see other patterns.  You should probably repeat your results, and maybe you have access to an incubator or something, where you can keep it a constant temperature inside, and then grow crystals in there and slightly varrying temperatures, so you expect to see a slight change in size (just for confirmation).