Winter tree

• Do not allow chemicals to come into contact with the eyes or mouth.
• Keep young children, animals and those not wearing eye protection away from the experimental area.
• Store this experimental set out of reach of children under 12 years of age.
• Clean all equipment after use.
• Make sure that all containers are fully closed and properly stored after use.
• Ensure that all empty containers are disposed of properly.
• Do not use any equipment which has not been supplied with the set or recommended in the instructions for use.
• Do not replace foodstuffs in original container. Dispose of immediately.

• In case of eye contact: Wash out eye with plenty of water, holding eye open if necessary. Seek immediate medical advice.
• If swallowed: Wash out mouth with water, drink some fresh water. Do not induce vomiting. Seek immediate medical advice.
• In case of inhalation: Remove person to fresh air.
• In case of skin contact and burns: Wash affected area with plenty of water for at least 10 minutes.
• In case of doubt, seek medical advice without delay. Take the chemical and its container with you.
• In case of injury always seek medical advice.

• The incorrect use of chemicals can cause injury and damage to health. Only carry out those experiments which are listed in the instructions.
• This experimental set is for use only by children over 12 years.
• Because children’s abilities vary so much, even within age groups, supervising adults should exercise discretion as to which experiments are suitable and safe for them. The instructions should enable supervisors to assess any experiment to establish its suitability for a particular child.
• The supervising adult should discuss the warnings and safety information with the child or children before commencing the experiments. Particular attention should be paid to the safe handling of acids, alkalis and flammable liquids.
• The area surrounding the experiment should be kept clear of any obstructions and away from the storage of food. It should be well lit and ventilated and close to a water supply. A solid table with a heat resistant top should be provided
• Substances in non-reclosable packaging should be used up (completely) during the course of one experiment, i.e. after opening the package.

If most of the salt dissolved, you can continue the experiment. There is an excess of sodium chloride NaCl, and a small amount of it will not hinder the experiment. However, if there is more than a 5 mm layer of undissolved salt at the bottom of the vial, there isn’t enough NaCl in the solution to create a fluffy Xmas tree. If this is the case, we recommend heating the vial a little longer.

Your Xmas tree should be kept still because the crystals growing on it are very fragile and can crumble away at the slightest touch.

This can happen if you add too much liquid soap. Try repeating the experiment, being careful to add exactly two drops of liquid soap.

One slight shake – and your Xmas tree sheds its salt “snowdrifts”! Luckily, you can easily recreate its beauty! Carefully wash the “snow” off the tree with the same amount of warm water that you used in the beginning of the experiment, and the “snowdrifts” will regrow in just 12 hours! You can repeat the experiment many times.

The paper you use for this experiment must have a specific consistency. It must be light enough that the salt solution can spread through it uniformly before the fluffy crystals start to form. If this process occurs too slowly or not at all, the salt crystals will start growing right in the Petri dish or only at the base of the paper structure. Meanwhile, it must be thick enough that it can hold its shape when wetted with salt water; paper that is too thin may deform or collapse. You can easily check for yourself whether your paper of choice is suitable for the experiment. Cut out a small piece of your chosen paper, about 1x5 cm in size, and see if it fits the parameters described above. First, immerse one end of a sample paper in the solution, leaving the other end in the air. If the paper absorbs the solution too quickly, it will rapidly change shape and collapse. If the paper doesn’t get moistened effectively enough, you’ll know in 12 hours: the “snowdrifts” will form either only on the base of the tree, or not at all. If neither of these scenarios comes true, and the paper turns out covered with salt formations, you can absolutely use it in the experiment. You can cut out any shapes (snowflakes, for example), and just in 12 hours they’ll be covered with “snow”!

The “snow” in our experiment can be grown on other materials besides paper. For instance, the salt solution will effectively moisten a woolen thread. You can use a metal wire to make a branched “tree,” wrap it in woolen thread, and use this structure instead of a paper tree. Just make sure the thread will absorb the solution well!

No, we don't recommend touching the tree with your bare hands. Besides, keep in mind that this tree is very fragile. Touching it will most likely cause it to shed its crystals! If you touched the tree with your bare hands, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly!