Australia's Science Forum

Hi Cosmo, I bought a length of 160mm diam water pipe and 4 end caps to fit. I cut it into 2 lengths to suit our burettes and pipettes, then glued a cap on one end and use the second cap to seal off the other end whilst soaking the glassware. I soak in Napisan or glassware soaker for a couple of days...

Hi Blossom,

Is that 20 gallons or 20 litres? I buy the 10L containers from Refresh because they're easier to carry and lift and I don't have bench space in the labs to accomodate 100L (~20 gallon) containers. Price here is $28.00 for 20 gallons.

Cheers
Fran

Hi Annette,

The attachment is the same prac as Whspa's Fresh Pineapple Juice, but with a bit more information.

Cheers,
Fran

Hi everyone, Happy New year to you all, and may it bring you organised teachers, science-loving students and experiments that work well first time, everytime!! Wishful thinking I know, but wouldn't it make our jobs so much easier!! Sadly, I'm back at work today after a relaxing (other than Christmas...

Thanks for that Rae - I didn't read the post correctly at all. As you have these kits, have you any feedback on them - good or bad.
Cheers,
Fran

Hi Amy,
It may also be worth checking out the Hodson-IEC induction kit featured on page 30 of the 2009-2010 Scientrific catalogue, item number EM1973-001, $161 ea or $148 each for 5 or more.
Cheers,
Fran

Hi everyone, I’ve just bought a class set + spares (15) of the pH probe/tester from Wiltronics (top of page 36, 2009 catalogue). I’m finding calibrating for the first time to be a very long-winded affair which may take hours to complete. The instructions are easy to follow and require ...

Hi Sammy, Try a weak (or stronger if necessary) solution of bleach on the stain. It works well decolorising stains in the plastic dimple trays. Why are you so concerned that the teacher/students cleaned up after themselves? So long as the broken glass was swept up - rather than picked up - and went ...

Hi Nehal,
I agree with Annette's calculations for 100 vol peroxide. I have attached a table I made some time ago when we were supplied 120 vol or 100 vol, depending on what the supplier sent. Hope this helps.
Fran

And Trish's scare above is one of the main reasons so many pracs (and other things) are being canned these days, or wrapped up in so much paperwork it's not worth the trouble. I'll bet the same teachers that repeatedly fail to adhere to safe procedures and practices are the first ones to moan when p...

I agree with Jen, enough MnO2 to give a really dark colour. One year I used old plaster of paris and even though it set, it must have absorbed moisture from the air so the first time it was used it disintegrated. It still worked ok, just couldn't be recycled.
Cheers,
Fran

I make a manganese dioxide/plaster of paris slurry and when set, break into small chunks to fit the test tubes. These can be recycled more easily than the powder and there is much less mess to clean up.
Cheers,
Fran

I think the answer to this one is: the more obliging you are, the more will be given to you to do. I'm reasonably sure lab techs were initially appointed to perform those tasks that only science teachers would have to do - on top of 'across the board' teaching duties - if we were not employed. For e...

Hi Jen, We have them in 2 out of 3 physical science rooms. Not sure how many they have in biol, but probably about the same. They are in use almost daily though not by all teachers - some have taken to them like ducks to water, some perhaps need a bit more training and time to come to grips with the...

Hi Rowyrow, As calcium metal is classed as hazardous and dangerous goods class 4.3, I'd be reluctant to supply to any students, and quite frankly, many teachers too! But saying that, a piece of calcium in water (which is very slow to react even with heating) may be less hazardous than a piece of mag...

Hi Vic,
This is one I downloaded a while ago which I'm hoping to 'have a play with' when things are quieter in term 4.
Cheers,
Fran

Hi Smeee, Following is one I remember doing years ago: Solution A 4.3g KIO3 per litre Solution B 0.2g Na2S2O5, 4g soluble starch and 5mL 1M H2SO4 (Na2S2O5 hydrolyzes to NaHSO3 in ionic solution). Make a paste of the starch in a small amount of water and add to boiling water. Add other chemicals and ...

Hi everyone,

Kristin, after reading your post I am even more convinced now - as if 2°C over the weekend wasn't enough! - that my retirement years lie in FNQ!! Now I've just got survive this job long enough to make it economically possible, being so well paid and all.

Cheers,
Fran

Hi Anne, I was interested so had a look on YouTube. Some great demos there but probably too dangerous for high schools. All the ones I looked at have to be done outside or in a fume hood and the risks associated with gaseous chlorine, liquid bromine and pot chlorate (if not all banned in schools any...

I keep winchesters of 6M HCl, HNO3, H2SO4 and CH3COOH plus NaOH and dilute from there. We use a lot of HCl so I keep 2 winchesters of 6M. Also keep 2M, 1M and 0.1M winchesters of these solutions too along with 250/500mL bottles and dropper bottles of each on the shelf. For things like Pb(NO3)2, AgNO...