What is the best way to seed a crystal?

Question

Is there any material that forms a nice stable crystal at room temp?

Answer 1

I agree, Copper (II) Sulfate Pentahydrate (CuSO4 * 5H2O) does easily form some rather nice, blue, crystals.
Also, I hear Borax (Sodium Tetraborate decahydrate, Na2B4O7 * 10H2O) also forms nice crystals.
Both substances are easily obtained (root killer, laundry item).

Of course, you could also go with something much more common, like salt (NaCl) or Sugar (Sucrose), too.

Essentially, it comes down to preparing a saturated solution at a high temperature, then carefully cooling it.
By placing a "seed crystal" into the saturated solution as it cools, it gives the substance something to crystallize onto rather than all over the walls and bottom of the container.
If the solution is truly saturated, you should not need to worry about your seed crystal dissolving away.

Answer 2

Sodium Chlorate crystals (comman house-hold salt)
are stable(ish, you can make them *very* unstable with a little knowledge and a few chemicals)

Answer 3

go copper and a cupric sulfate. the crystals are clear and they get sulferous dreds....

Answer 4

copper sulphate