Crystal Crush

Year: 
2019
Ranking: 
People's Choice
Artist: 
Maša Podunavac (Graduate Student)
Department: 
Chemistry

Description

One does not typically think of organic chemistry as super "artistic", but whenever it happens to have a bright colored solution or crystals - it is time for a picture! This photo depicts the final result of using a purification process, known as recrystallization, to yield pure trimethylsulfonium iodide. 

The process begins by heating a mixture of impurities and trimethylsulfonium iodide in ethanol until all of the solid dissolves. The solution is then left overnight to slowly cool down, during which shiny white needle like crystals of pure trimethylsulfonium iodide are formed. The impurities stay dissolved in ethanol which gives the liquid its bright orange color. The slower the solution cools, the more pure the final product will be. 

CSEPSchuller LabCNSIUCSBMOXI