My Micro Photography Gallery |
Butterfly Wings
Armenia, 12 Apr 2019
Crystals
Armenia, 6 Apr 2019
Crystals can be grown on a microscope slide and then photographed using polarizing filters.
There is an effect called
Birefringence
that results in amazing patterns in some materials.
Lake Placid, 2 Jun - 4 Jul, 2019
Below are some images I have made.
Most of these were taken at 20X magnification and are approx. 2 mm across. The rest were
at 10X and are approx. 4 mm across.
Please click on an image to enlarge it (then the browser's back button to return)
or click on the Size options to the left to resize all the images.
The first one on the left is presently my favorite.
Hippuric Acid |
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) |
Caffeine |
Adipic Acid |
Urea + a callus remover |
Urea + Glycine |
Saccharine |
GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid, an amino acid) |
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) |
Potassium Chlorate |
Aspirin |
Pregnenolone |
Resorcinol |
Maleic and Salicylic Acid |
Niacin |
Thioacetamide |
Ethylparaben |
Below is a sampling from Robert Berdan, Loes Modderman and others. None of the following photos are mine.
![]()
Tartrazine and Tricine. Tartrazine is bright yellow, and that is visible in pictures
which are all in the green/yellow/red spectrum. Water solution, pol+ret
![]()
many people are probably thinking: stacking. But with stacking the layers of this
crystals would have been lost. Without stacking you can still see that they grew
on top of each other, and the image has some depth. It's Tartaric acid with
Cetylalcohol.
![]()
Amino acids. Large panorama with polarized light. Olympus BH2, Nikon Plan Apo 5x,
10x projection ocular to a Canon 5DMKIII
![]()
After looking through some old slides I found many changes in the ones that had not
detoriated. This is a very old slide I made of Stevia and another brand of sweetener.
The 'pointilist' appearance is new, and adds to the picture.
![]()
I just got my hands some dry l-glutamine, ascorbic acid and citric acid to
try and make some crystals for polarized light. Do you have any tips on how to prepare
these 3 chemicals to get some nice crystals?
Loes Modderman: I have a lot of tips. Keep your chemicals apart. All three are easily
soluble in water, normal tapwater. Put half a teaspoon max in a small drop bottle or a
testtube. When it is dissolved, you can put two or three drops on a slide, apart or
mixed, whatever you want. Prepare your slides beforehand by washing them in plenty of
soapwater and drying them between two towels. That way you can use the WHOLE slide,
for drops are much harder to crystallize. Spread the drops out, and heat the slide
till crystallization starts. I used to do the heating above a waxine tealight,
moving gently. When crystals appear, put the slide on a cold surface, your table.
Crystallization will continue. But first of all, put polarization filters in your
scope!!! Coloring with any color never gives the same results. You can check out
all the crystallization pictures put in this group, and read
my article in MICSCAPE, May 2019, to get a lot more tips!!
![]() Tartaric acid and Amm chloride. Amm chloride is colorless under polarized
light, but tartaric acid is very colorful. So together they do nicely. Pol + ret, water solution<
/div>
![]() starch in mariage with Thiocarbamide. The round forms are recognizable,
but the starch is no longer starch. It depends on the chemical if the starch is
'eaten' or still separate from the crystals
![]() potato Starch with added TRIS, crystallized, but the starch is still there, though not polarizing any more.
![]() Epsom salt, when it's in a ringed mood, for Magnesium sulphate
has many disguises. Water solution, pol+ret
![]() Karlsbad Sprudelstein is an unusual sedimentary rock from the Czech Republic
with "ooids" (coated grains) made of the carbonate aragonite. It is just fantastic under
the microscope. Sample provided by Axel Munnecke. Width c. 3 mm
![]() Urea with Gluconic acid always makes fluent shapes. Mixed on the slide, water solution, 10x objective, pol+ret
![]() Epsom salt in straight mode. There is an enormous variety in crystallizations
making geometrical patterns. And all on a surface area of at most 1mm². Water, pol+ret
![]() artificial sweetener (Natrena in fluid form) For people who are into
crystallizations: artificial sweeteners are all interesting and all different.
Dissolving a tablet gives other results than fluids, even of the same brand. I have
a whole battery here of at least 20 different kinds, andI use them often. Pol+retarder.
Do you use saturate solutions or less?
Which concentration do
you use (if is not a secret)? Deionized water?
Rodolfo, no secret. Plain tap water. and no, not saturated, just a little bit, half a teaspoon at most of the pure chemical dissolved in about 20ml. I never weigh or measure anything, I just make a solution and see what happens. Saturated solutions tend to become sticky before they crystallise. With my method they crystallize quickly most of the time when heated a bit, sometimes in seconds, depending on the chemical. heating? I always thought that heat is the enemy of cristalization ... ![]() a series of Urea and Glycine. The flowers in the tapestry come second, after the longer crystals have settled. Pol+ret, water solution, 250x
![]() Bath salt containing several ingredients. It's remarkable that the dendrites closely resemble the non-polarizing crystals of Na bicarbonate
![]() I took out a two days old slide of Magnesium sulphate. When heated, a solution always bursts in some places. Those shards are blanco, but after a day or so they start showing crystals. So I took pictures of colorful shards, with a 4x and 10x objective.
![]() L-Asparagine, forming round units in the overall pattern. Water solution, pol + ret, heated and cooled several times
![]() Boric acid and a sweetener. Sweeteners are very rewarding, and all different. I mostly use them in combinations, and always from a water solution. Polarisatie, 10x objective
![]() amino acid combination. I'm still working on this one in Photoshop. I started with a panorama of six stacked images, then stacked them in Zerene stacker, then stiched them in Lightroom.
![]() components of any callus remover, but with a less striking effect. So the manufacturers of callus medicins use a secret ingredient they don't tell, or I am doing something wrong. Nevertheless, I like this one. Pol + retarders, 250x, water and alcohol solution
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![]() 2-4 dichloro A
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![]() Trimethyl and TRIS, water solution
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![]() Paracetamol, Alcohol, pol+ret
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![]() Experiment with Rheinberg illumination. Saccharine and Stevia, water solution
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![]() Hydroquinone and a sweetener, alcohol + water, pol+ret, 4x
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![]() Magnesium sulfate, from water solution, pol+ret
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![]() imiprazimi
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![]() atelolum
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![]() Thiocarbamide and a fertilizer, DF, converted to monochrome. Water solution, 10x objective
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![]() ditto
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![]() ditto
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![]() Epsom salt, pol+ret, water solution, 10x objective
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![]() Paracetamol and Saccharine in water solution, pol+ret
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![]() some amino acids from a fitness supplier
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![]() thiocarbamide and trimethyl, water solution, 10x
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![]() Callus remover, acetone, 10x
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![]() TRIS, water solution, pol+ret
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![]() Benzoic acid, Salicylspiritus and Tartaric acid
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![]() callus remover in aceton. 10x objective
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![]() callus remover in aceton, pol+ret
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![]() Urea, Glycine and one other, water solution, 10x objective
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![]() Magn sulphate, water solution
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![]() Niacinamide (Vit B3) and L-Asparagine, water solution. Pol+ret, 10x objective
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![]() Vit C and Na carbonate
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![]() Citric Acid
Src
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![]() Urea
Src
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![]() Urea,coffee?,water
Src
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![]() Niacinamide (Vit B3)
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![]() Hydroquinone,alcohol
Src
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![]() Resorcinol
Src
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![]() Ascorbic acid,water
Src
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![]() Tartaric acid
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![]() Aspirin
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![]() Resorcinol, alcohol
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![]() Ureum, water
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![]() Urea, water
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![]() Magnesium sulphate
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![]() Paracetamol
|
![]() |
![]() Hydroquinone+an addition
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![]() Tartaric acid and Saccharine
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![]() Urea, Paracetamol
Src
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![]() Aspirin and Paracetamol under polarized and oblique lighting
Src
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![]() Tartaric acid, Dextrin
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![]() Na tetraboraat and Glycine
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![]() Paracetamol
|
![]() Paracetamol
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![]() Paracetamol
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![]() Paracetamol, betamethason
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![]() Paracetamol, betamethason
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![]() Aqueous resorcinol
Src
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![]() Betamethason, paracetamol
Src
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![]() Resorcinol
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![]() Urea + an acid
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![]() Paracetamol + addition, alcohol
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![]() Urea + addition, water
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![]() N/A
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![]() Betamethason/paracetamol A
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![]() Barnsteenzuur
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![]() Copper Sulfate
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![]() Epsom salt
Src
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![]() Epsom salt
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![]() Epsom salt
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![]() Urea
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![]() Copper sulphate, in gel
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![]() Ammonium di hydrogenfosphate
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![]() NAS
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![]() Tartaric acid
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![]() Salicillic acid and Propylhydroxybenzoate from alcohol solution
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![]() Urea and citric acid
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![]() Urea + citric acid, water solution
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![]() Na thiosulfate, water solution
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![]() Urea
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![]() Glycine
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![]() Progesteron
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![]() Tartaric acid after some time
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![]() Propylhydroxybenzoate and paracetamol
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![]() Thiocarbamide and three others, water solution
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![]() Malic acid and softener
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![]() Boric acid, mainly
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![]() Hydroquinone
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![]() Paracetamol, Alcohol solution
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![]() Progesteron
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![]() Resorcinol M
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![]() Hydroquinone and 2 other components
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![]() Resorcinol A
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![]() Propylhydroxybenzoate
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![]() Imidiazole
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![]() Malic Acid and Ibuprofen
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![]() Atropine
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![]() |
![]() |
![]() Penylephrini hydr
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![]() Efedzine / Hydroquinone
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![]() Tartaric acid and menthol
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![]() Hydroquinone and Urea
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![]() Resorcinol
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![]() Paracetamol
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![]() Paracetamol and wodka
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![]() Boric acid, Sacchanrie and at least 2 others, from water solution
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![]() 4-hydrobenzoic B 2
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![]() TRIS and Glaubersalt, mainly
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![]() Oxalic acid
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![]() Tartaric acid, in water
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![]() kaliumwaterstofphatalaat A
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![]() kaliumwaterstofphatalaat
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![]() TRIS
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![]() Thiocarbamide and Rochellesalt
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![]() Mainly Acetylsalicylic acid
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![]() Resorcinol and Oxalic acid
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![]() Thiocarbamide and an industrial salt
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![]() Epsom
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![]() Recorcinol, alcohol solution
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![]() Resorcinol
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![]() "Snus is a traditional form of smokeless tobacco in Sweden.
Images are an airdried water extract of a typical bergamot-flavored snus
(pouch soaked in water for a few minutes). I am guessing the crystals are mainly salt.
Polarized light (no retarder). Image is a stitch of 16 images.
4X objective."
|
![]() "BIG crystal growth (if that's what
it is on 1mm²) from Hydroquinone and a soft drink. Fascinating because they never
touch other groups of similar crystals, but intrusions of a different kind are added
without a problem. For people who want to learn something about crystallization !"
|
![]()
"The proportion of the two solutes is critical to achieving these forms -
I generally start from a solution of 4:1 (v/v) of beta-alanine to l-glutamine and vary
concentrations until I get something that works. Ensure that your slides are extremely
clean - if they are even slightly hydrophobic the results are generally unusable."
|
![]()
Urea and an addition, water solution, 150x
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![]() Thiocarbamide and Rochellesalt
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![]() Hydroquinone, alcohol solution
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![]() p-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol
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![]() 4-hydrobenzoic acid G
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![]() 8-CHINLINOLSULFAAT
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![]() 8-CHINLINOLSULFAAT
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![]() Omeprazole
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![]() 3/4 hyldroxy phenyl G
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![]() Urea, Gluconic acid and an addition
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![]() Ijzermagnesiumnitraat
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![]() Resorcinol and vitamin drink
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![]() Boric acid, Sacchanrie and at least 2 others, water solution
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![]() From a garden fertilizer
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![]() Diclofenac, water solution
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![]() TRIS in water solution
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![]() Oxalic acid with resorcinol
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![]() TRIS, water solution
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![]() Resorcinol. water solution
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![]() Pyridoxin and Betaine
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![]() 3/4 hyldroxy phenyl
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![]() Resorcinol, alcohol solution
|
![]() Oxalic acid and an energy drink
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![]() Coffeine and Saccharine, water solution
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![]() Urea and gluconic acid
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![]() Saccharine and Dextrin, in water solution
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![]() Succinic acid and Gluconic acid, water solution
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![]() Testosteron Propinate C
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![]() Acetamide
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![]() Urea and others, water solution
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![]() Tartaric acid
|
![]() From several acids
|
![]() Urea
|
![]() Gallic acid and Hippuric acid, water solution
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![]() A callus remover
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![]() Saccharine and Dextrin, in water solution
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![]() Resorcinol, thiocarbamide and a drink, water solution
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![]() Hydrochinon in stripes, after a drop of drink, alcohol solution
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![]() 4-aminobenzoëacid
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![]() Nicotinezuur A
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![]() Na hydroxide in a special mixture, water solution
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![]() Guanidine HCL
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![]() n/a
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![]() Citric and Ascorbic Acid
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![]() Citric and Ascorbic Acid
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![]() Thiocarbamide and another component
|
![]() A sheet of gelatin, stereo, 20x, multicolor filter
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![]() DL Tropiczuur A
|
![]() From several acids
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
"Extract of white snus. White snus is based on the traditional Swedish oral tobacco
product but instead of containing tobacco, it contains a gum base to which nicotine
and flavours have been added (mint flavour in this case). I took one sachet of snus
and allowed it to steep in a 50:50 mix of water and alcohol for 10 minutes I then
filtered the liquid through kitchen towel before leaving to airdry on a slide for a
week. Images are taken using x4 objective and simple polarized light (no retarder).
Slide shown as well for reference."
|
![]() Malic Acid + sugar
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![]()
Tartaric acid, with and without retarder
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() 3/4 hyldroxy phenyl
|
![]() Benzotriazole
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![]() 3/4 hyldroxy phenyl
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![]() Urea and Boric acid
|
![]() Nicotinamide
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![]() Paracetamol and Salicylic acid
|
![]() A "special concoction", water solution
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![]() Hydroquinon and other components, Alcohol
|
![]() Resorcinol
|
![]() Hydroquinone with an addition to straighten them out, alcohol and water
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![]() Hydroquinone, mostly
|
![]() Saccharine, water solution
|
![]() Nicotinamide
|
![]() Nicotinamide A
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![]() Tartaric acid
|
![]() Fertilizer, water solution
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![]() Malic Acid + sugar
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Malic acid, from water solution
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![]() KA-Chloraat
|
![]()
"Copper sulphate, taken 5 seconds after each other. First the small crystals
appear, and then a wave takes over in a second. In the meantime the crystals keep
growing, as you can see in the right corner. This is typical for this chemical."
|
![]() |
![]() Magnesiumchloride
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![]() 4-hydrobenzoic acid
|
![]() Sulpher
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![]() Sulfur
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![]() Hydrochinon and glycine, alcohol solution
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![]() Progesteron, water solution
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![]() magnesium sulphate and several others
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![]() Sweeteners and Glycine
|
![]() Magn sulphate, water solution
|
![]() Paracetamol/vanille B
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![]() Vanilla b
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![]() Resorcinol AK
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![]() Hydroxy B
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![]() Hydroquinone and Glycine
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![]() Vanille/paracetamol D
|
![]() Vitamine C/Salicylzuur
|
![]() Vanille/paracetamol
|
![]() Magnesiumchloride
|
![]() Creatine and Na thiosulphate
|
![]() Hydroquinone D
|
![]() Benzotriazole
|
![]() Magnesium sulphate, water solution
|
![]() Antron
|
![]() Bemegride
|
![]() Ammonium Sulphate
|
![]() Gluconic acid, water solution
|
![]() p-hydroxyphenethyl A
|
![]() Boric acid and another acid
|
![]() Crystals that would need stacking. Combination of three colorful chemicals in water solution, 150x
|
![]() Hydroquinone and Thiocarbamide
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![]() Magnesium sulphate, water solution
|
![]() Hydroquinone and Thiocarbamide
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![]() Resorcinol, alcohol, 150x
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![]() Na-methoxyde
|
![]() Na-methoxyde
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![]() Na-methoxyde F
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![]() Na-methoxyde C
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![]() Urea and Boric acid, water solution, 150x pol+ret
|
![]() Amm thiosulphate and Na thiosulphate, water solution
|
![]() Resorcinol and Tartaric acid, alcohol solution, 150x
|
![]() Boric acid and Thiocarbamide
|
![]() Callus remover liquid
|
![]() A mixture of sugars, water solution
|
![]() |
![]() Boric acid and Urea, millions of little crystals popping up. Water solution
|
![]() Urea and Boric acid, water solution. Less them 1mm²
|
![]() Urea and some acids
|
![]() Thiocarbamide and Ascorbic acid, water solution, pol+ ret , 150x
|
![]() Na-methoxyde C
|
![]() D-threo-2-amino
|
![]() Pyrocatechine
|
![]() Boric acid and Thiocarbamide, water solution, 150x
|
![]() Resorcinol and Tartaric acid, alcohol solution, 150x
|
![]() D-threo-2-amino.B
|
![]() Gluconic acid
|
![]() methoxyphenyl
|
![]() Several kinds of fertilizer, water solution
|
![]() D-threo.amino-1 A
|
![]() Several acids
|
![]() Malonic
|
![]() Hydroquinone, Glycine and wodka
|
![]() Oxalic acid pattern, alcohol
|
![]() One of 20 years ago, from Urea , water solution
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![]() Resorcinol, alcohol solution, pol+ret, 100x
|
References:
- How to Photograph the Magical Microscopic World – Photomicroscopy
- The Art & Science of Photomicrography with Polarized Light, Dr. Robert Berdan, June 22, 2017
- Crystals Photographed with Polarization Microscopy: Water, Beer, Caffeine, Vitamins, Amino Acids and Human Tears, Dr. Robert Berdan, March 17, 2019
- Video: DIY polarized light microscopy of Vitamin C Crystals
- Microcrystals and how to grow them, Loes Modderman, microscopy-uk.org
- Facebook Amateur Microscopy post
FIN
- How to Photograph the Magical Microscopic World – Photomicroscopy
- The Art & Science of Photomicrography with Polarized Light, Dr. Robert Berdan, June 22, 2017
- Crystals Photographed with Polarization Microscopy: Water, Beer, Caffeine, Vitamins, Amino Acids and Human Tears, Dr. Robert Berdan, March 17, 2019
- Video: DIY polarized light microscopy of Vitamin C Crystals
- Microcrystals and how to grow them, Loes Modderman, microscopy-uk.org
- Facebook Amateur Microscopy post
I just got my hands some dry l-glutamine, ascorbic acid and citric acid to
try and make some crystals for polarized light. Do you have any tips on how to prepare
these 3 chemicals to get some nice crystals?
Loes Modderman: I have a lot of tips. Keep your chemicals apart. All three are easily
soluble in water, normal tapwater. Put half a teaspoon max in a small drop bottle or a
testtube. When it is dissolved, you can put two or three drops on a slide, apart or
mixed, whatever you want. Prepare your slides beforehand by washing them in plenty of
soapwater and drying them between two towels. That way you can use the WHOLE slide,
for drops are much harder to crystallize. Spread the drops out, and heat the slide
till crystallization starts. I used to do the heating above a waxine tealight,
moving gently. When crystals appear, put the slide on a cold surface, your table.
Crystallization will continue. But first of all, put polarization filters in your
scope!!! Coloring with any color never gives the same results. You can check out
all the crystallization pictures put in this group, and read
my article in MICSCAPE, May 2019, to get a lot more tips!!
- The Seven Most Common Grades for Chemicals and Reagents:
- ACS grade meets or exceeds purity standards set by the American Chemical Society (ACS). This grade is acceptable for food, drug, or medicinal use and can be used for ACS applications or for general procedures that require stringent quality specifications and a purity of ≥95%.
- Reagent grade is generally equal to ACS grade (≥95%) and is acceptable for food, drug, or medicinal use and is suitable for use in many laboratory and analytical applications.
- USP grade meets or exceeds requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). This grade is acceptable for food, drug, or medicinal use. It is also used for most laboratory purposes, but the USP being followed should always be reviewed prior to beginning to ensure the grade is appropriate for that methodology.
- NF grade meets or exceeds requirements of the National Formulary (NF). The USP and the NF (USP– NF) jointly publish a book of public pharmacopeial standards for chemical and biological drug substances, dosage forms, compounded preparations, excipients, medical devices, and dietary supplements. The listings here should be reviewed to determine which would be considered equivalent grades.
- Laboratory grade is the most popular grade for use in educational applications, but its exact levels of impurities are unknown. While excellent for teaching and training, it is not pure enough to be offered for food, drug, or medicinal use of any kind.
- Purified grade, also called pure or practical grade, meets no official standard; it is not pure enough to be offered for food, drug, or medicinal use of any kind.
- Technical grade is used for commercial and industrial purposes; however, like many others, it is not pure enough to be offered for food, drug, or medicinal use of any kind.