Australia's Science Forum

I have been asked to clean soft copper pieces that have been used for heating. I am hoping there is an easier way to do this than with steel wool and lots of manual scrubbing. Some pieces are coming up okay with minimal fuss but some are extremely hard to clean. Any suggestions?

Have just tried the extraction of DNA from strawberries with a great result (thought I had better try it first as we have never done this before). Much easier and cheaper and more impressive than the cheek cells extraction that used to be done with swishing gatorade. The recipe uses cold methylated ...

I work in a small rural high school (just under 200 students atm) and we don't have access to delivery services. I look after both the science and food tech departments and do the shopping for both during school hours using my own vehicle (there is no school car) and I get reimbursed for mileage. I ...

Gave all the information about Risk Assess program to the HOD last year and recommended we use it however he says that as far as the risk assessment goes we are covered under CSIS therefore the program is not necessary. Science orders are filled out on a requistion form and sticky taped to my bench....

Congratulations Wayne on your school getting so far in the competition. We came 2nd, only 48 points behind the winner. Thanks Loopy for the recognition that Wayne and I deserve for our superior service that got our schools so far. :cheesy: If only our schools recognised our superior service as well ...

The Henry Lawson High School won the NSW title so we are off to Lismore too. Therefore I can't wish your school success, Wayne 8-[ Unfortunately as our finals were held later than other states, all accomodation at Lismore was booked out and as a result we are chartering a plane and doing it all in o...

I am responsible for doing the whole school chemical stocktake (this includes things like gluesticks) and use an Excel spreadsheet but this is only updated once a year. Once completed, paper copies of the chemical register go to principal, chairperson WHS and one stays in prep room. Electronic versi...

I help spend our science budget but don't have an input into the forming of it. The HOD keeps tabs and tells me when we are starting to run out.

Actually I don't know what the kids are extracting - could be chlorophyll. All I know is it involves boiling water, boiling metho, soaking in lugol's iodine and drying on paper towel. Definitely will be using water bath and hot plate. All the teacher told me when questioned about the safety issue of...

I have been asked to boil metho for a prac (and keep it boiling for a while) Any suggestions on how to do this safely?

Thanks for your quick replies. I added more powder to the bulk solution I had, shook it throughout the day then filtered a small amount to test with a straw and it worked. I'm so happy!

I have tried making calcium hydroxide solution from "The Laboratory" book however it hasn't been going milky in experiments. Does anyone have any ideas as I need "workable" solutions for a yr 10 prac test.

Thanks for clarifying that. The teacher concerned thought that swishing the liquid in the mouth was okay instead of actually scraping the cheek. After looking at what's involved in the experiment, I must say I am pleased I don't have to worry about it.

I have been asked to buy some Gaterade for Yr 10 to extract DNA from their cheeks and from what I've read on here it would seem that this experiment is not allowed in NSW government schools. Is this correct?

At the end of last year I walked into my chem storeroom and lo and behold found a baby brown snake curled up on the floor. Fortunately it was cool enough in there that the snake was sluggish enough to wait quietly for the GA to come and relocate it. Somehow it had managed to slither under the prep r...

I buy bulls eyes from the local IGA butcher section. I ring the order through and they get them in for me. Never had any trouble with ordering. Being bigger than sheep eyes, it is easier for the junior classes to disect them

Thanks for all those ideas. We still do the swishing of the mouth with gatorade prac with Yr 10 but I will certainly be suggesting these other alternatives.

In the new science building my chemical storeroom has an exhaust fan which I need to turn on before I enter the room however the flammables cupboard inside the chemical storeroom is not ventilated so I hold my breath while I retrieve chemicals from it - ridiculous.

Elizabeth, you are not alone. I too have been unable to login to view the PD presentation. I have sent an email to the webmaster and am waiting on a reply.

Our new lab has a wet/dry classroom so students have access to tables and chairs in the dry classroom. Stools are only ever brought out for senior students if needed in the lab otherwise they stand. If we kept stools permanently in the wet area, the junior students would not be able to resist rockin...