Chemical Forums

Specialty Chemistry Forums => Biochemistry and Chemical Biology Forum => Topic started by: zoomer_stock on April 17, 2020, 08:16:06 AM

Title: Creating a timelapse of menthol crystals growing
Post by: zoomer_stock on April 17, 2020, 08:16:06 AM

Hello,

I'd love some help with this. I'm trying to create a 10-15min reaction where I can film menthol crystals forming under a microscope. So far I've managed to photograph some, but the reaction time is very fast. I don't have any ethanol, so I'm just using water currently.

Any tips on how to achieve this? So far, i've melted the menthol crystals in hot water, but as i said, crystals form too quickly around the sides of the saturated liquid on the slide.

Many thanks!

Title: Re: Creating a timelapse of menthol crystals growing
Post by: jeffmoonchop on April 20, 2020, 12:19:27 PM

Slow down the cooling rate. I'm guessing you take the water off the heat as soon as the crystals are dissolved? Try taking the heat higher in case you have any more undissolved crystals. Ideally you can keep the heat high while you film. Or try using a solvent where the solubility is higher.