Science, Tech, Math › Science Metal Crystals Photo Gallery Share Flipboard Email Print This is pure elemental bismuth, shown in this picture as hopper crystal. It's one of the most beautiful pure elements. Karin Rollett-Vlcek / Getty Images Science Chemistry Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Facebook Twitter Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on February 02, 2020 Did you know metals could grow as crystals? Some of these crystals are exceedingly beautiful and some can be grown at home or in a standard chemistry lab. This is a collection of photos of metal crystals, with links to instructions for growing metal crystals. Bismuth Crystals Metal Crystals Bismuth is a crystalline white metal, with a pink tinge. The iridescent color of this bismuth crystal is the result of a thin oxide layer on its surface. Dschwen, wikipedia.org One of the most incredible metal crystals is also one of the easiest and most affordable to grow. Basically, you just melt bismuth. It crystallizes upon cooling. Bismuth can be melted in a container on a stove top or gas grill. The rainbow of colors comes from the oxidation layer that forms as the metal reacts with air. If bismuth is crystallizes in an inert atmosphere (like argon), it appears silver. Cesium Crystals Metal Crystals This is a high-purity sample of cesium crystals maintaining in an ampule under an argon atmosphere. Dnn87, Wikipedia Commons You can order cesium metal online. It comes in a sealed container because this metal reacts violently with water. The element melts a bit warmer than room temperature, so you can heat the container in your hand and watch crystals form upon cooling. Although cesium would melt directly in your hand, you shouldn't touch it because it will react with water in your skin. Chromium Crystals These are crystals of pure elemental chromium metal and a one cubic centimeter cube of chromium. Alchemist-hp, Creative Commons License Chromium is a shiny silver-colored transition metal. It has a high melting point, so this isn't a crystal most people can grow. The metal crystallizes in the body-centered cubic (bcc) structure. Chromium is valued for its high corrosion resistance. The metal does oxidize in air, but the oxidation layer protects the underlying portion from further degradation. Copper Crystals Pure copper may be found in nature. HansJoachim / Getty Images Copper is a transition metal that is easily recognizable by its reddish color. Unlike most metals, copper sometimes occurs free (native) in nature. Copper crystals may occur on mineral specimens. Copper crystallizes in the face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure. Europium Metal Crystals Metal Crystals This is a photo of europium in a glovebox under argon. The dendrites in the 300g crystalline sample are readily apparent. Europium is a metal that oxidizes instantly in air. Alchemist-hp, Creative Commons License Europium is a highly reactive lanthanide element. It is soft enough to scratch with a fingernail. Europium crystals are silver with a slight yellow tint when they are fresh, but the metal quickly oxidizes in air or water. In fact, the element must be stored in an inert fluid to protect it from attack by moist air. Crystals have the body-centered cubic (bcc) structure. Gallium Crystals Metal Crystals Pure gallium has a bright silver color. These crystals were grown by the photographer. Foobar, wikipedia.org Gallium, like cesium, is an element that melts just above room temperature. Gallium Crystal Metal Crystals This is a picture of pure gallium metal crystallizing from melted liquid gallium. Tmv23 & dblay, Creative Commons License Gallium is an element with a low melting point. In fact, you can melt a piece of gallium in your hand. If the specimen is sufficiently pure, it will crystallize as it cools. Gold Crystals Metal Crystals These are crystals of pure gold metal. Alchemist-hp, Creative Commons License Gold crystals sometimes occur in nature. While you probably won't ever get enough of this metal to grow crystals, you can play with a solution of the element to make the gold appear purple. Hafnium Crystals Metal Crystals These are crystal of hafnium, one of the transition metals. Alchemist-hp, Creative Commons License Hafnium is a silvery-gray metal that resembles zirconium. Its crystals have the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure. Lead Crystal These are electrolytically deposited nodules of lead and a high-purity lead metal cube. The surface of the lead nodules is darkened due to oxidation. Alchemist-hp Usually, when someone talks about lead crystal they are referring to glass that contains a large amount of lead. However, the metal lead also forms crystals. Lead grows crystals with the face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. Crystals of the soft metal tend to resemble nodules. Lutetium Crystals This is a photograph of a 1 cubic centimeter cube of lutetium metal and several pieces of sublimed lutetium metal dendrites (crystals). Alchemist-hp, Creative Commons License Magnesium Crystals Metal Crystals Crystals of elemental magnesium, produced using the Pidgeon process of vapor deposition. Warut Roonguthai Like the other alkaline earth metals, magnesium occurs in compounds. When it is purified, it produces lovely crystals that somewhat resemble a metallic forest. Molybdenum Crystal This is a photo of a piece of crystalline molybdenum and a cube of molybdenum metal. The crystalline molybdenum was produced via ebeam remelting. Alchemist-hp Niobium Crystals Metal Crystals These are crystals of the metal niobium. The central niobium crystal measures 7 mm. Art-top, Wikipedia Commons Osmium Crystals Metal Crystals This is a photo of crystals of ultrapure osmium metal. The osmium crystals were produced by chemical transport reaction in chlorine gas. Alchemist-hp, Creative Commons License Osmium crystals possess the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal structure. The crystals tend to be sparkly and small. Niobium Crystals Niobium has a bright metallic luster that develops a blue cast when the metal is exposed to air for a long period of time. This photo shows pure electrolytically-produced niobium crystals and a cube of anodized niobium. Alchemist-hp Osmium Crystals Osmium is a brittle and hard blue-black transition metal. This cluster of osmium crystals was grown using chemical vapor transport. Periodictableru Palladium Crystal Palladium is a lustrous, silvery-white metal belonging to the platinum group of transition metals. This is a crystal of purified palladium, about 1 cm x 0.5 cm. Jurii Platinum Metal Crystals Platinum is a dense, grayish-white transition metal. These crystals of pure platinum were grown by gas phase transport. Periodictableru, Creative Commons License Ruthenium Crystals Ruthenium is a very hard, white transition metal belonging to the platinum group. This is a photo of ruthenium crystals that were grown using the gas phase method. Periodictableru Silver Crystal Metal Crystals This is a photo of a crystal of pure silver metal, deposited electrolytically. Note the dendrites of the crystals. Alchemist-hp, Creative Commons License Silver crystals are not difficult to grow, but because silver is a precious metal, this project is a bit more expensive. However, you can grow small crystals from a solution quite simply. Tellurium Crystal Tellurium is a brittle silver-white metalloid. This image is of an ultra-pure tellurium crystal, 2-cm in length. Dschwen, wikipedia.org Tellurium crystals may be produced in a lab when the element is very pure. Thulium Crystals Thulium metal grows dendritic crystals. Alchemist-hp / Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Thulium crystals grow in the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal structure. Dendritic crystals may be grown. Titanium Crystals This is a bar of high-purity titanium crystals. Alchemist-hp Tungsten Crystals These are high-purity tungsten or wolfram rods, crystals and a cube. The crystals on the tungsten rod show a colorful oxidation layer. Alchemist-hp Vanadium Crystal Metal Crystals This is a photo of bars of pure crystalline vanadium. Vanadium is a silverish gray transition metal. Alchemist-hp, Creative Commons License Vanadium is one of the transition metals. The pure metal forms crystals with the body-centered cubic (bcc) structure. The structure is evident in a bar of pure vanadium metal. Yttrium Metal Crystal Metal Crystals This is a photo of an ultrapure (99.99%) crystal of yttrium metal. The yttrium crystal, which shows the crystal dendrites, is 3 cm long and has been cast in acrylic. Jurii, Creative Commons Yttrium crystals do not occur in nature. This metal is found combined with other elements. It's difficult to purify to get the crystal, but it's certainly pretty. Yttrium Metal Crystals Yttrium is a silvery rare earth metal. This is a photograph of yttrium crystal dendrites and a yttrium metal cube. Alchemist-hp Zinc Metal Crystals Zinc or spelter is a silvery-gray metallic element. This photo shows a cube of zinc, crystalline zinc from an ingot and sublimed dendritic zinc. Alchemist-hp Zirconium Metal Crystals Zirconium is a lustrous gray transition metal. This is a photo of zirconium crystal bars and a cube of highly purified zirconium metal. Alchemist-hp Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Metal Crystals Photo Gallery." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/metal-crystals-photo-gallery-4054187. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 29). Metal Crystals Photo Gallery. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/metal-crystals-photo-gallery-4054187 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Metal Crystals Photo Gallery." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/metal-crystals-photo-gallery-4054187 (accessed June 7, 2023). copy citation Featured Video