Have you ever wanted to store a snowflake so it never melts, even when held in your hand or placed in the sun on a hot summer day? With glue and microscope slides, it's possible. You can keep it as a memory of a particular snowfall, start a collection of unique specimens or just have a fun and memorable activity with family and friends!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Using Instant Glue
Step 1. Get the necessary materials
You will need a glass slide and a coverslip (the kind you use to look at objects under a microscope), some instant liquid glue, a small brush, a magnifying glass and a piece of dark fabric or cardboard. Of course, you'll also need some snow!
- The slides are easily purchased online.
- The glue must be liquid; that gel wouldn't work.
- The brush is optional, but it would make it easier to move the snowflakes without ruining them.
- Go hunting for snowflakes during a light snowfall: in these cases it is more likely to find large and intact specimens, while in a snowstorm they would be destroyed.
Step 2. Put the slide, brush and glue in the freezer
They must first be cooled to prevent the snowflake from melting in contact with them. They all have to be very cold to keep it intact.
- Leave them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- Let the glue cool inside the original package.
- Do not leave the glue in the freezer for more than 30 minutes - it will solidify and you should wait for it to thaw.
Step 3. Collect some snowflakes
Once the material is ready, go outside and find a cool, smooth surface. Remove the snow that has settled there; you could clean up part of a concrete table or nook. Lay the cardboard on the surface and keep the glue and slides close to you. Let the snow settle on the cardboard and examine the flakes with a magnifying glass.
- Choose the snowflakes you would like to keep and use the brush to remove the ones you discarded.
- You should choose the largest specimens, the details of which can be seen more clearly.
Step 4. Transfer the snowflakes to the slide
Using the brush, take a snowflake and place it on a slide, in the place you prefer. You can place more than one on each slide.
- Take the slides by holding them by the edges and avoid touching the surface: you could heat it too much with the heat of your fingers.
- If the flakes melt, it may be too hot. The best days to collect snowflakes are when the temperature drops below freezing.
Step 5. Put a drop of instant glue on the snowflake
After you have taken all the specimens you want, drop a small drop of glue in the center of each bow; then immediately cover it with the coverslip, pressing very, very gently.
Coverslips are very fragile and have sharp edges, so handle them carefully
Step 6. Leave the slides in the freezer for at least 48 hours
This way the glue will dry around the snowflakes while they are still frozen. Put them in a place where they are not likely to be bumped or broken.
- Note that it can take a week for the glue to dry in the freezer. To be safe, leave the slides in the freezer for at least 7 days.
- Ask your family to be careful not to break the slides when they open the freezer.
- Once the glue has dried you can take the slides out of the freezer and examine the snowflakes under a microscope!
Method 2 of 2: Use an Adhesive Spray
Step 1. Get the necessary materials
This method is similar to the previous one, but instead of instant glue, an adhesive spray is used, such as lacquer or plasticizer spray paint. To use this method you will need microscope slides, lacquer or spray plasticizer (both are fine), toothpicks, a magnifying glass and a cold and snowy day.
- The slides can be easily purchased online.
- The best time to collect a snowflake is on a cold day, during a light snowfall.
Step 2. Cool the slides and the adhesive spray
To prevent the snowflake from melting on contact with the materials, you will need to cool them. If it's very cold outside, just keep them outside for at least 30 minutes.
You can also put them in the freezer, again for 30 minutes
Step 3. Gently spray the adhesive spray onto one side of the slide
Spray for 1-2 seconds, until a thin layer forms. Try not to overdo it or the liquid may melt the snowflake before it dries.
If you've sprayed too much, discard that slide and try another one
Step 4. Capture the snowflakes on the slide
It will be quite sticky due to the adhesive layer. Place the slide under the falling snow and let some flakes stick to the surface. Once you have captured enough flakes, cover the slide with your hand (but do not touch it) to prevent too many from accumulating.
You can use a toothpick to reposition the flakes on the slide to your liking
Step 5. Add another layer of adhesive spray
Put the slide in a very cold place and gently spray another layer of adhesive to fix the flakes. The real snowflake will melt, but when it melts it will leave the imprint of its shape in the adhesive.
Let the adhesive dry in the cold
Step 6. Examine the snowflakes with the magnifying glass
Once the adhesive has dried, you can observe the specimens with a magnifying glass to see the details. Compare them with each other: you will notice that each bow has a different look, with a different geometry.
