Search found 777 matches

by bigmack
18 Sep 2024, 18:36
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Use of Borax in schools
Replies: 5
Views: 157

Re: Use of Borax in schools

It apparently can effect unborn babies . Not a problem for males but girls could be unknowingly pregnant and that it the problem .Some schools use it in juniour school where it it highly unlikely there are any girls of child bearing age . Female teachers should be made aware that although its a teac...
by bigmack
18 Sep 2024, 18:29
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Cleaning Glassware Fast!
Replies: 31
Views: 5364

Re: Cleaning Glassware Fast!

Hydrogen peroxide cleans permanganate stains off right before your eyes . Fizz fizz fizz . Only need 6% stuff. Pour it in the flask ,swish it around for a minute . Pour it into the next , swish it around etc etc etc . Only need about 50mls and will do maybe 1/2 dozen flasks easy HCl will sort rust l...
by bigmack
17 Sep 2024, 09:05
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Upgrading old Caralina Electrophoresus for Dye
Replies: 5
Views: 2890

Re: Upgrading old Caralina Electrophoresus for Dye

Hi Rosalie Yes you can just use plain Agar .It’s one of the beauties of the dye .No more expensive Agarose powder . Also yes I used Bicarb soda as the electrolyte but I can’t remember the concentration . I could find out for you though . As for the dyes , the set I got had a little sticker on them s...
by bigmack
10 Sep 2024, 21:26
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: repurposing conical flasks
Replies: 6
Views: 278

Re: repurposing conical flasks

Rowanne wrote: 10 Sep 2024, 11:33 I cant figure out how to post a picture or link sorry
Hi Rowanne .
Pictures are can be added cua attachments .

See this topic I created
viewtopic.php?p=48860#p48860
by bigmack
09 Sep 2024, 16:25
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: repurposing conical flasks
Replies: 6
Views: 278

Re: repurposing conical flasks

Goldfish bowls :whistling2:

I’ve never found volume marks to be that good on most flasks or beakers in the first place . They are probably still good to use for titrations at least .
by bigmack
06 Sep 2024, 15:21
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: pH Buffers
Replies: 5
Views: 443

Re: pH Buffers

OK I just did it .$33 flat fee freight.
$77.55 for 3x Buffer tablets (4,7,10) and Freight .
by bigmack
06 Sep 2024, 15:10
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: pH Buffers
Replies: 5
Views: 443

Re: pH Buffers

Thanks Rosalie.
That's a great price . Haven't checked freight yet , but surely can't be more than $25 Haines wanted .
by bigmack
06 Sep 2024, 12:48
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Dissection blocks
Replies: 21
Views: 4908

Re: Dissection blocks

We had those Grey shallow trays at old school to Rosalie . Apparently they were Photographic development trays . I couldn't find the original ones for Love nor Money but I did find some Newer ones .They all had a small pourer on one corner . I thought they looked strange but the Bio teacher said it...
by bigmack
05 Sep 2024, 10:11
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: pH Buffers
Replies: 5
Views: 443

pH Buffers

Hi Labbies . I've just realized all our Sparkvue pH probes are well out of calibration. I have also realized that we have no pH4 buffer solution . I have also just realized that Buffer solution has a limited shelf life 12-18 months unopened and less than 3 months when opened . At old school we had b...
by bigmack
04 Sep 2024, 18:31
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Disposal of damaged lithium batteries
Replies: 12
Views: 585

Re: Disposal of damaged lithium batteries

When I was worrying like heck about how dangerous these batteries were , I did a bit of googling . Yes there have been a few cases of batteries catching fire . I watched a professor who specialises in Lithium batteries and his opinion was that yup , they can catch fire . But it is very rare . About ...
by bigmack
03 Sep 2024, 16:06
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Disposal of damaged lithium batteries
Replies: 12
Views: 585

Re: Disposal of damaged lithium batteries

At my last school I was ITC one day a week . I quickly realised that the batteries in most of our Chromebooks were swollen up so much they were bulging up the keyboards and the keys were actually flicking off . LOL ….. I naturally blamed the kids at first until I changed a few keyboards and found th...
by bigmack
03 Sep 2024, 08:54
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Fume hood on windy days
Replies: 3
Views: 175

Re: Fume hood on windy days

I tend to agree with Merilyn .
When running , ours has such an up draft , I've given up ever using the Bunsen's .Was similar at my old school .
I'd be getting the extractor fan checked out .
by bigmack
03 Sep 2024, 08:47
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Van De Graaf Generators
Replies: 13
Views: 4779

Re: Van De Graaf Generators

I would think the condensation from being in the fridge would make it run worse? That was my thoughts too Peter. Although by the time I've buggered around getting it all back together , it's usually dried out :cheesy: Does anybody store their belts in the Fridge ? I ask because when I did my hand o...
by bigmack
02 Sep 2024, 12:29
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Van De Graaf Generators
Replies: 13
Views: 4779

Re: Van De Graaf Generators

Does anybody store their belts in the Fridge ? I ask because when I did my hand over day , the old Labbie told me the silicone belt for the Van De Graaf was in the Fridge and I should always remove it after use and put it back in the fridge . As you can imagine this is quite the PITA to do :whistli...
by bigmack
30 Aug 2024, 15:35
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Preparing Esters
Replies: 17
Views: 5322

Re: Preparing Esters

All good . Just to clarify . I wasn’t making esters . Hence I didn’t use a reflux condenser . I was just checking how fast it would come to the boil . I understand teachers only have so long to carry out a prac and if the lesson is over before the damn thing comes to the boil , it was all a waste . ...
by bigmack
30 Aug 2024, 12:08
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Ammonium nitrate
Replies: 41
Views: 17379

Re: Ammonium nitrate

Have just had a request for ammonium nitrate for "making an ice pack" practical. Seriously when are the companies that produce science textbooks and online textbooks going to get their act together. Why don't they know that ammonium nitrate is not available for school use. When are they g...
by bigmack
29 Aug 2024, 14:30
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Preparing Esters
Replies: 17
Views: 5322

Re: Preparing Esters

I had to try this to see how fast it would work First test . Just an equal amount of sand in two Pie dishes . 25ml Metho ( Ethanol) on the Left and 25ml of water on the right . Took 15 min before the Ethanol was boiling . Note the condensation is starting to form in the flask of water on the right ....
by bigmack
28 Aug 2024, 14:07
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Best pulleys
Replies: 9
Views: 652

Re: Best pulleys

Card was topped up today , so gone shopping too LabTechBrooke .
They look good so fingers crossed .Thanks again for the heads up .
by bigmack
28 Aug 2024, 12:50
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Dissection blocks
Replies: 21
Views: 4908

Re: Dissection blocks

We had those Grey shallow trays at old school to Rosalie . Apparently they were Photographic development trays . I couldn't find the original ones for Love nor Money but I did find some Newer ones .They all had a small pourer on one corner . I thought they looked strange but the Bio teacher said it...
by bigmack
28 Aug 2024, 12:00
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Dissection blocks
Replies: 21
Views: 4908

Re: Dissection blocks

We had those Grey shallow trays at old school to Rosalie . Apparently they were Photographic development trays . I couldn't find the original ones for Love nor Money but I did find some Newer ones .They all had a small pourer on one corner . I thought they looked strange but the Bio teacher said it ...