Australia's Science Forum

Hi everyone, Got my info sheet on this today. If there's a Science Asistants' Fairy Godmother then this course will clarify some of the confusion over MSDS requirements & Risk Assessments within Dept. schools, as well as the awaited CSIS update and possibility of a DEpt. run chemical disposal pi...

My GA made me up a container to soak them in - 1m length of pvc pipe (10cm inner diameter), sealed at one end. Works well.
When not needed for this purpose, it's a great place to store the long springs (threaded onto lengths of dowel).

Hi Tammy, From 'The Laboratory' (Pg 3): PERCENTAGE SOLUTIONS Weight per volume w/v Definition: Grams of solute per 100mL of solution eg. to make a 10% sodium chloride solution, dissolve 10g of NaCl in water and make up to 100mL Volume per volume v/v Definition: mls of a specific liquid per 100mL of ...

We obtained a price list from the Council coordinator, and found the charges were very reasonable eg.
Acids & alkalis - $1.65/L
Flammable liquids - $1.21/L
Unknown liquids/solids - $8.80/L or Kg
Glad it's gone!

Thanks, all, for a hilarious start to the day!
Got a BIG smile on my face now....

Liz

Hmmm... You got me thinking about those various pain relievers we keep for a Senior prac (aspirin & paracetamol, from dissolvable to enteric-coated). Moved them from where they were easily accessable for teachers to Chemstore, until I can discuss it further. Thanks again, guys, for what I learn ...

We use Staedtler whiteboard markers (from Q-Stores), because they not only last well, but are refillable. Most cost-effective. The refill bottles also from Q-stores, although they're not listed in the new catalogue, so perhaps a phone-call first. I noticed some of the companies displaying goods at t...

Thanks, Goran What a difference that would make to our school (and God willing, a decent Chemstore). Thanks also for your initiative in sending it out directly to the schools. =D> I had read it on this site, and printed it to show the staff, and OH&S Committee, as I am a member, then went to ema...

Our budget this year is under 5000. This is for everything except photocopying, and also includes Agriculture's costs. We also have to pay for any photocopying costs over the limit - that then is taken off the next year's amount. Our budget has been this tight for the 4 years I've been here, and red...

Oh, Lisa dear, Best of luck with the aftermath. In the early 90's water came through our home, not too deep, thankfully, just lost many precious things in boxes on the floor (photos, etc) - but everything in the garage, where it was chest deep, thankfully not the car. I travelled Nth for the w/end -...

Hi to all of you who live or work in the Newcastle/Hunter Valley/Central Coast and Sydney's Northern Suburbs/Northern Beaches. Hope you & yours got through OK. Hear many schools are closed. My elderly parents live at The Junction, some flooding, but thankfully alright. 2 sons at Collaroy, also O...

Thankyou!
A jolly good laugh is such a great way to start the day!!
Keep it up!! (oops)
Liz

Hi Rosalie,

I have some DCPIP in stock - been here longer than my 4 years, so don't know how 'good' it is.
Also have phosphoric acid.
Give me a ring if you want some.

Liz

Hi Judy, I was asked for Schultz's solution last year, and found a recipe in the older typed print-outs in the recipe folder that has been here for many years. Schultz's Solution (chlor-zinc-iodine) 20g Zinc chloride 9.5mL Distilled water Dissolve in warm water, then cool. Add the following solution...

Hi Chemical, Would you be looking for Potassium ferrocyanide? Are you doing an experiment on the corrosive qualities of metals? Go into the Search button at the top of the page and type in Ferroxyl Indicator, to bring up a relevant thread. Best of luck with your new position. Just keep asking plenty...

Demonstrates yet again why this site is so valuable! So interesting to hear about the range of experience/s in this job. Sorry if I misled you earlier, Helen - no, I wasn't asked to do this for any experiments. I feel there are good reasons not to: * We are not teaching staff, so technically, we pre...

Can't resist clarifying a few things as regards public schools in NSW. I have been asking for Science Training for 4 years! Finally am starting a Traineeship, but it's not yet clear whether there will actually be any hands-on modules included. Also, just recently, a mentoring program has started for...

Hi Sue,

Go into Forum FAQ - you can find out there

Liz

Hi Helen, We were asked to do this last year. It was topical for me. I was 'thrown into the deep end of Science' 4 years ago, without any training and have been learning on the job since then! 2 years ago I picked up 2 permanent days at another school, so was job-sharing this position with yet anoth...

I think it might be Finish Dishwasher Cleaner. Like you, Sue, I used some in my dishwasher at home. There are ads on TV up here. There is only have a small benchtop dishwasher here, which proved to be more trouble than it was worth! No space to keep it out, no other sink to use if it was 'plugged' i...