Interesting Tales about Crystals and Chemistry

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Crystal is an inorganic gemstone, known for its crystal-clear transparency and elegant elegance. The appreciation of crystals has a long history in our country, having been famous throughout the world as early as the Spring and Autumn period. Since the 14th century, people in Europe and America have used various gemstones with different meanings as birthstones for each month. It is believed that wearing the birthstone corresponding to one’s month of birth brings good luck, happiness, and a fulfilling life. Among the 12 months, there are two months whose birth stone is crystal; specifically, the birth stone for February is amethyst, which symbolizes sincerity, calmness, and stability ； The birthstone for October is citrine, symbolizing gentle tenderness like water. Scientists have discovered that natural crystal has the functions of improving eyesight, boosting energy, facilitating bodily functions, replenishing nutrients, and lowering blood pressure. After being finely ground, it also has the effect of focusing and storing energy, allowing certain beneficial rays to enter the body through specific acupoints, thereby producing effects similar to those of acupuncture. Wearing a natural crystal necklace for a long time can have a certain preventive and therapeutic effect on cervical spondylosis and breast tumors. Crystal is a transparent quartz crystal 14808-60-7 (SiO2); it is usually colorless, with smaller amounts existing in shades of smoke gray (smoky quartz), black (onyx), purple (amethyst), yellow (citrine), and pink (rose quartz). In its intact state, the crystal has a hexagonal pyramidal shape; its specific gravity is 2.65, its hardness is 7, its melting point is 1713°C. It exhibits good heat resistance but poor thermal conductivity. Its chemical properties are stable, and defect-free single crystals possess piezoelectric properties. Crystals have a wide range of uses; based on their properties and industrial applications, they can be classified into piezoelectric crystals, optical crystals, etc.