Search found 1155 matches

by Merilyn1
27 Oct 2023, 14:27
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: split pea DNA
Replies: 16
Views: 9521

Re: split pea DNA

Animal based?? Oh yuk, not the liver. Got to love teachers and their "ideas"!
by Merilyn1
27 Oct 2023, 12:10
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: split pea DNA
Replies: 16
Views: 9521

Re: split pea DNA

I run with the idea that the senior students don't remember what they did in junior years. Once had a Bio class insist they had never used microscopes before! We just stick with strawberries. I buy frozen ones so they are on hand. We often do this prac out of strawberry season and the frozen ones ar...
by Merilyn1
24 Oct 2023, 14:31
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: microscopes
Replies: 2
Views: 1008

microscopes

I'm looking to buy some new senior microscopes and have been quoted (among others) for Motic BA-80 microscopes. Just wondered if anyone had these and your thoughts. Also, as I'm in Tahmoor, is there anyone around Campbelltown or Southern Highlands that has these that I could have a look at? Apprecia...
by Merilyn1
20 Oct 2023, 13:01
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Safety data sheets
Replies: 10
Views: 2739

Re: Safety data sheets

That's a good idea. Highlight the first aid and maybe the spill procedures. Invest in some Post-it Flags to indicate those pages. Good time to remind the teacher that they should be referring to the SDS when preparing their risk assessment for the prac, ie reading the SDS before they use the product...
by Merilyn1
17 Oct 2023, 14:28
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Safety data sheets
Replies: 10
Views: 2739

Re: Safety data sheets

Mini SDS are not recognised by Safework as being a SDS, so they aren't much good on their own. You still need to have the correct SDS. Apart from a mini SDS not having all the required information, they are produced (by Chemwatch) a third party. The SDS must be provided by the manufacturer or suppli...
by Merilyn1
17 Oct 2023, 13:21
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Eyes for dissection
Replies: 28
Views: 12780

Re: Eyes for dissection

We've given up on brains, too (like a few people around here :cheesy: ). Last lots were in pieces, not whole. Teachers decided that the brain dissection is not worth the cost. However, things like hearts and eyes certainly have a lot of value especially for seniors. I've been on leave for five month...
by Merilyn1
09 Oct 2023, 12:17
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: chemical register
Replies: 14
Views: 2231

Re: chemical register

Not sure of the time frame, but you would be correct. I think it aligns with freight companies which don't need to keep a register of everything that moves through their depot. I imagine that job if they did!!
by Merilyn1
09 Oct 2023, 12:04
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Cleaning Bunsen burners
Replies: 23
Views: 10201

Re: Cleaning Bunsen burners

Try soaking them. If it is too stuck I don't bother. The cost of new ones isn't worth the effort
by Merilyn1
09 Oct 2023, 10:19
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: chemical register
Replies: 14
Views: 2231

Re: chemical register

Consumer products are domestic products that are purchased in small quantities from say, a supermarket or hardware store. They do not need to be added to a register even if they are hazardous. Once you start buying these products in bulk e.g. by the carton, they do need to be added to your register.
by Merilyn1
02 May 2023, 09:35
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Amber dropper bottles
Replies: 19
Views: 3408

Re: Amber dropper bottles

I have an ample chem store so my droppers are stored in there. In Unitrays and with the DG class of the solid/concentrate.
I'm not sure how you got to Minecraft!
by Merilyn1
28 Apr 2023, 12:34
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Amber dropper bottles
Replies: 19
Views: 3408

Re: Amber dropper bottles

I think they just copy previous experiments without thinking too much about what they need. Limit supply and they'll adapt. Probably, my first port of call would be to let the teachers know you are streamlining. Most of them won't say anything so you can go ahead and wait for the tears later :D
by Merilyn1
28 Apr 2023, 11:37
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Amber dropper bottles
Replies: 19
Views: 3408

Re: Amber dropper bottles

Regarding the concentrations of acids, we generally have 0.1M and 1M in droppers. I do also have 2M HCl in droppers. A coincidence that I read this now as I've just emailed a teacher who wanted 0.5M solutions (at short notice) telling him he could have 0.1M and in future if he wanted 0.5M I would or...
by Merilyn1
26 Apr 2023, 07:49
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Amber dropper bottles
Replies: 19
Views: 3408

Re: Amber dropper bottles

I just buy the cheaper ones from SSA, they work fine. I always thought the wadding would get contaminated and be difficult to clean. I usually swap out the things that "eat" the rubber teat - most of the nitrates (silver nitrate is fine), iodine, nitric acid (not that anyone uses that anym...
by Merilyn1
06 Apr 2023, 14:43
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Chemicals not sold by Westlab or other common suppliers
Replies: 13
Views: 2545

Re: Chemicals not sold by Westlab or other common suppliers

Oh no! Just for the sake of doing it. Nup - as Shaz said, they will come up with all sorts of weird things and if you give an inch they'll take a mile. If you buy this, you'll find after 12 months you'll have a chem store full of useless stuff. It is surprising, as most teachers struggle to get thro...
by Merilyn1
04 Apr 2023, 13:40
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Chemicals not sold by Westlab or other common suppliers
Replies: 13
Views: 2545

Re: Chemicals not sold by Westlab or other common suppliers

I think I may have bought something from Sigma years ago. I wouldn't have a problem buying from them, I'd have more of a problem spending a lot of money on something that will spend the next ten years on a shelf until you do a chemical clean up! New teachers can be difficult to work with. If you use...
by Merilyn1
04 Apr 2023, 08:16
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Chemicals not sold by Westlab or other common suppliers
Replies: 13
Views: 2545

Re: Chemicals not sold by Westlab or other common suppliers

Sometimes the teachers are just passing on what the students have asked for. Sometimes the students have just got some weird experiment off Google that may or may not work. The kids just don't put any thought into it. The teacher's attitude of "it's not crucial" makes me think this is what...
by Merilyn1
31 Mar 2023, 11:17
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: grease pencil
Replies: 4
Views: 1292

Re: grease pencil

I'd be interested, too. How long do they last on glass? How easy is it to remove? I agree - students would be less likely to write on desks etc with them.
by Merilyn1
30 Mar 2023, 13:04
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: sds for litmus paper?
Replies: 2
Views: 980

Re: sds for litmus paper?

I wouldn't worry. Litmus itself is not hazardous, so legally, we are not required to have a SDS for it. We only need SDSs for hazardous chemicals.
I certainly wouldn't worry about finding an SDS for litmus paper.
by Merilyn1
30 Mar 2023, 07:45
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: updating SDS's
Replies: 3
Views: 2433

Re: updating SDS's

Check your legislation but I think it is very similar to NSW. Staff that handle, use or store any hazardous chemicals must have access to a SDS. You have to consider that there may be staff without convenient access to a computer e.g. your maintenance team. Also consider if there is a power or inter...
by Merilyn1
24 Mar 2023, 14:38
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Mineral and rock safety alert
Replies: 45
Views: 20360

Re: Mineral and rock safety alert

I was here for the start of it (2011 - I'm RosalieM on page 1) but not the 2015/2016 discussion. I've printed out the document linked from November 2015 which looks kind of official and put it with the rocks to deal with later! Yeah, if it is the one I saw, it looks "kind of" official. Ce...