Search found 138 matches

by Graham Kemp
08 Mar 2023, 14:36
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Reduction Tube
Replies: 3
Views: 910

Reduction Tube

Has anyone made a Reduction Tube for the reduction of Copper(II) oxide with Methane gas? Apparently, it requires heating a stoppered boiling tube over a bunsen flame until the expanding air bursts a hole through the side! :w00t: I've done some glasswork before, but I'm nervous to try this. Better ye...
by Graham Kemp
15 Nov 2018, 12:03
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: iron (lll) thiocyanate
Replies: 16
Views: 12644

Re: Iron(111)thiocyanate

Ferric nitrate may be available in nonahydrate or anydrous form. Check on the lable. * Fe(NO3)3.9H2O is 403.999 g/mol so 0.0020M will be 0.0808 g/100mL * Fe(NO3)3 is 241.86 g/mol so 0.0020M will be 0.0484 g/100mL Potassium Thiocyanate * KSCN is 97.181 g/mol so 0.0020M will be 0.0194 g/100mL Ferric T...
by Graham Kemp
17 Jun 2015, 10:15
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Iodine Classification
Replies: 23
Views: 8649

Re: Iodine Classification

From the bits and pieces I've read, we do not need to reorganise the chemical store. Storage and transport of chemicals still comes under the Dangerous Goods classification. But I agree, Sunray, I have read that you can't have both labels on a container which creates the problem of how do you know ...
by Graham Kemp
05 May 2015, 12:26
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Old Skeleton Disposal ?
Replies: 9
Views: 4235

Re: Old Skeleton Disposal ?

Excellent advise, all, and in particular thanks, Labbie.

Having the police dispose of it somewhere that they know about will avoid it being a surprise to them if it is accidentally unearthed there.

#-o The logic is so obvious in hindsight.
by Graham Kemp
30 Apr 2015, 11:44
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Old Skeleton Disposal ?
Replies: 9
Views: 4235

Old Skeleton Disposal ?

Our anatomical skeleton has worn out. The wires are snapping and plastic starting to break apart. So we have ordered a replacement.

The question is, what to do with the old skeleton so it doesn't become a CSI case down the road?
by Graham Kemp
20 Mar 2014, 09:32
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: melting of lead
Replies: 6
Views: 3847

Re: melting of lead

Indeed. A lot of really cool experiments aren't allowed anymore just because they will slowly kill you; a little bit at a time.
by Graham Kemp
12 Mar 2014, 14:18
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: egg membrane
Replies: 26
Views: 15667

Re: egg membrane

Lorrae, I think water, and weak salt solutions will increase the size of egg, but golden syrup or conc salt and sugar solutions will decrease the size. Lada Yes. That is what should happen. Water and weak salts solutions are hypotonic-- they're less concentrated than the egg-- so osmotic pressure w...
by Graham Kemp
12 Mar 2014, 13:56
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Phenolphthalein Agar Revisited!!
Replies: 26
Views: 9886

Re: Phenolphthalein Agar Revisited!!

Set-up -Mix 1 packet of unflavored gelatin with 1 cup of water, then add a few drops of phenolphthalein, and a few drops of NaOH. Continue to add enough NaOH and phenolphthalein so that the gelatin mixture remains bright pink after swirling (1%phenolphthalein and 0.2N NaOH work fine). Soak gelatin ...
by Graham Kemp
12 Mar 2014, 13:48
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Phenolphthalein Agar Revisited!!
Replies: 26
Views: 9886

Re: Phenolphthalein Agar Revisited!!

I use dropping bottle trays. They divide into approximate 3cm x 3cm squares which makes easy to handle blocks. Pour in to the required depth, set, then cut down to size.
by Graham Kemp
11 Mar 2014, 13:13
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Exposure to contaminated petri dishes
Replies: 26
Views: 10574

Re: Exposure to contaminated petri dishes

The Search Engine wrote:... Feeling quite well by the way. :D
Excellent! Keep doing that.
by Graham Kemp
06 Mar 2014, 09:49
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Exposure to contaminated petri dishes
Replies: 26
Views: 10574

Re: Exposure to contaminated petri dishes

Report it to your WH&SO, at the very least. Do consider consulting a physician, especially if you show any symptoms in the next few days. Particularly, check your hands for paper cuts and such that might have been infected. The proper response here is to be a bit pessimistic; to err on the side ...
by Graham Kemp
04 Mar 2014, 08:18
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Phenolphthalein Agar Revisited!!
Replies: 26
Views: 9886

Re: Phenophthalein Agar Jelly

It should work if you can avoid having anything grow on it.

A disinfectant or antiseptic wash or spray might help dissuade any growth.

Keep it cool, use it soon, dispose of it quickly afterwards.
by Graham Kemp
25 Feb 2014, 12:52
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Broken Glassware
Replies: 25
Views: 9591

Re: Broken Glassware

Additionally, you should probably make sure all borosilicate glass waste is properly smashed so it cannot be scavenged.

There's another reason Pyrex is no longer allowed to produce borosilicate kitchenware, and we have to go through police checks to purchase borosilicate flasks and stuff.
by Graham Kemp
25 Feb 2014, 09:13
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Broken Glassware
Replies: 25
Views: 9591

Re: Broken Glassware

I guess cleaning up broken glass isn't "cleaning" :D Indeed it is not. It is regarded more as a chemical spill or similar hazard. Which it might as well be too, come to that. Not all broken glassware were empty at the time, after all. We too put aside a bucket/bin to collect breakages fro...
by Graham Kemp
20 Feb 2014, 08:44
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: TSA Agar
Replies: 7
Views: 4212

Re: TSA Agar

T.S.A. Agar is T rypticase S oy A gar ... Agar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypticase_soy_agar TSA is a general purpose medium, providing enough nutrients to allow for a wide variety of microorganisms to grow. It is used for a wide range of applications including; culture storage, enumeration (cou...
by Graham Kemp
18 Feb 2014, 10:58
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Egeria densa (water plant)
Replies: 6
Views: 3663

Re: Egeria densa (water plant)

My biology teacher is trying to source this plant for and experiment, Egeria densa (water plant) also known as Anacharis, brazillian waterweed or Large-flowered Waterweed. I have tried our local pet shops and nobody has it. I was wondering if there is a similar plant that anyone knows of that can b...
by Graham Kemp
28 Jan 2014, 10:09
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Welcome back everyone.
Replies: 14
Views: 6198

Re: Welcome back everyone.

Welcome back. No excitement; just moved house over the break. Moved in okay, with some slight hassle fitting everything in to a smaller house. Then the heat hit town and the new house just soaks it in. Still, it's closer to work so what we save on fuel we can spend on extra air conditioning. Meh.
by Graham Kemp
28 Nov 2013, 11:36
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Edible roks experiment
Replies: 6
Views: 3616

Re: Edible roks experiment

Raisins or saltanas would work better than jellybeans, but for crunch try either cornflakes, or dried banana chips.
by Graham Kemp
20 Nov 2013, 10:23
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Potassium Dichromate
Replies: 14
Views: 5494

Re: Potassium Dichromate

I'm not aware of it being banned, but do treat it with all due care. It's fairly nasty stuff. In addition to being a highly corrosive oxidizing agent (or because of that) Potassium Dichromate is also highly toxic and carcinogenous. Long term exposure can lead to skin damage (dermatitis), and it is a...
by Graham Kemp
12 Nov 2013, 14:57
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Physics equipment ID
Replies: 11
Views: 5047

Re: Physics equipment ID

Tricky. Interesting, but tricky. I can't really place it.

It looks like you have three distinct metal wires (copper, brass, steel?), each with a ring at one end and a brass bar at the other.

Possibly used for heat conductivity demonstrations? Maybe. I don't know.