Why do taps and glasses get white crusty spots?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do taps and glasses get white crusty spots?

The Big Idea

Have you noticed white crusty spots on taps and glasses? They're made of crystals! Let's find out where they come from.

Dissolved Minerals

Step one: Dissolved Minerals. Tap water carries dissolved minerals such as calcium. You can't see them in the water.

Drying Drops

Step two: Drying Drops. When drops dry, the water evaporates and the minerals stay behind. They form a hard, white crust of tiny crystals called scale.

Hard Water

Step three: Hard Water. Some areas have harder water with more minerals, so spots are bigger. Ask a grown-up to clean with a safe cleaner, since some can irritate skin or eyes.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Water carries minerals. Calcium is common. Scale is crusty. Grown-ups clean it.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Scale can build up inside kettles and pipes. Hard water has more. Scale is crystals. Grown-ups handle cleaners.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Put a few drops of tap water on a dark plate. If you have it, add drops of distilled water nearby. Let them dry. Compare the spots. Which left more crust?

Outro

White crusty spots on taps and glasses are scale, tiny crystals left when mineral-filled tap water dries. Hard water has more minerals, so it leaves bigger spots. Let a grown-up handle the cleaning! Science is amazing! Remember, every big discovery starts with a small question. Keep looking, keep learning, and keep asking why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!