Australia's Science Forum

The thermite rx is not banned; see under 'Aluminium' in CSIS appendix F.

Same thing happened to me when I was filling in at another school. Thankfully, the bloody specimens were stowed in trays, so the freezer wasn't contaminated. I don't have a chest-freezer here and don't want one; too many things can and do go awry. We go out of the way collecting all the bits & p...

Check the SG with a hydrometer. Beer starts around 1040 and goes down to 1010 or lower @ bottling. You can calculate % ethanol from these readings by dividing the difference by 7.9, then add 0.5.

Best Lunar eclipse ever! I can understand the hoax now; with just a sliver or crescent of sunlight, Luna looks like Mars with a polar cap!

My local abbatoir charges $1 per eye (beef). Best to get in early before they finish the day's kill.

The CSIS appendix D guidance notes allow years 7-10 to use solid NaOH for soap and paper making (under close supervision). 6M is user code Teacher only.

Xe, SD, KOPR

The "thermite" reaction, described in the CSIS Vol.2, Appendix F (under Aluminium) is a good one. Needs a site specific risk assessment, and don't do it outdoors if there is any chance of rain.

Hi all.

I have the wonderful task of signing the prac Risk Assessments which require recording the MSDS issue dates, plus the earliest MSDS expiry date. Is everyone's understanding that MSDS expiry date is 5 years from the issue date?

Xe, SD, KOPR

Hi Donna

The acid is too strong. Adjust to pH 6 (only slightly acidic) and should go yellow.

Xe, SD, KOPR

I make my own 'S' tubes but they can be fragile (in the hands of students and teachers). An alternative could be the plastic single-piece air-locks used for home-brew.

Xe, SD, KOPR

Hi, this suits me (and works well at this school) HCl & H2SO4: 4M, 2M, 1M, 0.5M, 0.1M. Prepare each by diluting the next most concentrated, so the 4M is only one prepared from the conc. HNO3 & NaOH: 1M & 0.1M (other strengths made up only when requested) NaOH is nasty stuff, precipitates...

I believe its still available to schools; the govt making it hard for Al Qaeda & co. to get fertilizers containing > 45% (Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate). More here: http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/WWW/rwpattach.nsf/VAP/(5738DF09EBC4B7EAE52BF217B46ED3DA)~AN+Information+Sheet.pdf/$fil...

Bindi- freezing causes moisture to leech out leaving cracks and wrinkles. Amma-this is my recipe:- PINK/PHENOLPHTHALEIN AGAR BLOCKS For 1 block (10 dropper tray, divider removed) 14.4g agar 480ml water 24ml 1M NaOH 4.8 ml phenolphthalein Put agar in 1L conical flask, add water and magnetic stirrer. ...

Yeh they got 150mm size, thanx ri

We have 2 x 150mm size evaporating basins. Does anyone know a supplier of these? The largest I found in the catalogues was 125mm (SSA).
ta,
Xe

Hi rainbow-sky

Molten NaCl is electrolysed at ~600degC. Cl2 gas is produced at carbon anode, and liquid sodium at iron cathode, which is allowed to cool to solid.

CSIS Appendix D says:-

zinc sulfate, heptahydrate

Slightly toxic if ingested.
Toxic fumes of SO2 released on heating.

Thanks All, for suggestions and info. I might just re-label some dilute NaOH as "Drano" next time, Wink (with appropriate warnings, of course). Rita - we use similar products, and OJ, Jiff. Perfume is on our list but I substitute lemon essence. I make up and keep long-life red cabbage indi...

Hi chrishow

Nothing gets simpler than this: use a pH probe attached to a datalogger to graph change in pH of water with a student blowing through a straw into a foam cup.

Hi all,

We get liquid nitrogen from the horticulture dept. of local uni.

I want to get the Scientrific superconductor demo; can anyone recommend this or others? Last year we tried to make a Y Ba2 Cu3 O7 superconductor from scratch with limited success (it didn't work).