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Hi Monso On Chemwatch, you can select the label option when you are doing a search for chemicals, the label option "button" is with the MSDS, mini MSDS options. I'm using the ChemFFX version and on this, these options are on the left hand side. The DET labels were already in use here when ...

That's a real problem. It seems the equipment isn't up to the task! My question is, did the supplier tell you, or provide written instructions regarding the maintenance eg wiping the cupboard out, when you purchased it? If they didn't I think they are at fault, and the cabinet is insufficient for it...

Not a bad idea, Jodye. The lack of understanding of a risk assessment or of a safety data sheets was surprising. I've no doubt they would know a whole lot more about science than I do, but I would have thought that these things were pretty basic. My HT has already done this course, but he is also a ...

I did this course last year, would recommend doing this, especially if you have little experience with OH&S. It was a good opportunity to ask questions from an independent source. Twelve months later, I'm still trying to put in place some of the finer detail I learnt - at least I've got somethin...

I bought some in Coles just a few weeks ago.

Thanks, everyone for your great budget ideas. I never thought of looking in woolies for alka seltzer, but I'll look at all the other options too and see what I can pick up the cheapest.

We have a new teacher and she has asked for "fizzy tablets" to use with a Year 6 class. Wants to show the different rates of fizzing with various water temperatures - hot, ice cold and room temp. Any suggestions as to what she could use? I thought alka selzters, but expensive option or usi...

Hibiscus is the preferred flower around here and fortunately there are some growing in a sheltered garden, so have flowers most of the year. Avoid any daisy type flowers - they are a composite flower, what you look at is actually hundreds of tiny flowers in the middle. The "petals" on a da...

How lucky are you, Ana. I had to have two days off sick a couple of weeks ago and the HT was panicking if I was going to make it three! Fortunately for everyone, I dragged my flu-filled body off my death bed and came back to work. When I approached the heirarchy about finding a casual who could repl...

I've used Ian's recipe too and worked fine, teachers were happy. Thanks, Ian!

I'm with you on that Narelle, don't want to go down that street at all - sourcing them and then the hassle of disposing of them. It's true, rat dissection is not in the syllabus so it is a big expense for something the kids don't have to do. Glad my teachers here don't want to do it "just for f...

The abattoir...mmm...I'll do anything to avoid going there. How I've managed to not see my breakfast again when I've got out of the car is beyond me! How pleased I was to find that I cannot buy lambs kidneys or brains from them and found out my local supermarket has a good supply of these and hearts...

My teachers here suggested par-boiling brains to firm them up, just drop them into boiloing water for about two minutes. It doesn't smell as bad as you think it will! The first time I did it, I took all the gear to the old prep room as I was expecting it to really smell bad and didn't want to have p...

mariaC - thanks that's really interesting. I was mostly looking at possible cheaper options for the junior classes. I haven't attempted it yet as I think I'm still getting the basics right and am just using the nutrient agar until I feel more confident, and, I really need to look at how much I'm act...

No, not thinking of substituting agar with gelatine, but substituting the peptone with gelatine as both are a source of protein, and gelatine is much much cheaper. But I'm going to work out the cost somparison of using nutrient agar -v- agar and adding peptone etc, before I go down that path.

From a reliable source in NSW Police Forensic Training I have found that Naphthalene Black is now called Amido Black. It is used for enhancing fingerprints in blood, not detecting blood in fingerprints, so substituting luminol would not have the same effect.

pH meters should be calibrated each day they are used. You have to be super careful with the bulb, it is easily damaged by the oil off your skin, so no one is to touch the bulb at all. But try telling that to a bunch of teenagers! The one from Wiltronics is a bargain if you can get replacement bulbs...

Rosalie Good to see that you had taken the time to do the calculations properly, I had rushed and did some rough calculations in my head (always a worry!). I think I'll re-visit this and do them properly and see what I get. I also need to work out how many plates we use in a year, it still may not b...

I think I've seen elsewhere on Chemtalk of people using gelatine as a cheap alternative to peptone. I've worked out the cost comparison and if I use peptone with agar I may as well buy the nutrient agar. I was going to do a search for this this morning when I logged on, but this thread distracted me...

All suppliers of chemicals must provide a copy of the msds, so you could try each company's website. If they are no longer in business you can use an equivalent msds from a different supplier. A msds is only good for five years from its issue date, so check the dates on the ones you have first, they...