Australia's Science Forum

Thanks everyone for your replies!
It went fine using the stock I already had.

Ha ha thanks Marama T !!!
Mine is for tomorrow, so I'm going with the solution I already have.......... I'll let you know if it was ok!

Hi all,

Do I need to make up Iron III Nitrate fresh?
The prac is called "reversible and irreversible reactions", being used with Cobalt Chloride, Potassium Thiocyanate, Mg ribbon, steel wool.
I have some stock solution made up, but who knows when it was made!!

Thanks
Helen

Oh Helen - I just looked it up on Riskassess. That is nasty. Check on the SDS but you should be really well kitted out to handle it, including a respirator. Unless someone has some more specific information, I would get the PPE on and transfer it all to a larger, sealed container. Label it and arra...

Good morning,

I have a bottle of Aluminium Chloride in the Chemical storeroom that has cracked and the liquid has overflowed on to the shelf.
What is the best way to clean this up, please?

TIA
Helen

Thanks everyone for your input!
Yes it is an invaluable site! So many interesting things to learn!!

J wrote: ↑08 Aug 2022, 14:13 Hmmmmmm.......that sounds like a BAD idea!!

J,
yes, we've had a discussion and he's buying some nail biting solution.....

LOL , soak them in Methylated Spirits . Our Australian stuff contains a strong bittering agent ...not particularly non-hazardous though....but it stops Winoe's drinking it without poisoning them .Unlike America where they actually add Methanol . :whistling2: have to ask why a teacher would choose t...

Thanks Merilyn, but he was asking if we had anything on hand that he could use......not a commercial product.
Dare I say.....a chemical we would have, a safe one of course!!

Hi all,

I have a teacher who has asked for something to paint onto jelly beans to deter the students from eating them.
Something like the solutions you can buy to discourage nail biting.
Any ideas of something we may have on hand????

TIA
Helen

Remlap, I'm at a private school. I do all the ordering and then my HOD signs the order form and our finance office pays the invoices. If legally, the end user is meant to sign, would that not be every teacher , or student, that uses it ? Does my legal responsibility end when I hand the Mg Ribbon to...

jodye, what type of school are you in, Dept of Ed or private? I do all the ordering for science but the accounts are definitely in the schools name. Actually, to clarify, I generate the orders and then I send it on to our SAM and she actually places the order! My head teacher has always signed the E...

Hi all, I need to purchase a water bath. There's one that all the suppliers seem to sell that needs a hotplate to operate, are there any that operate independently? What are your suggestions for a good but reasonably priced unit? Under or around $1000.00? :thumbup: Thanks Helen. What size are you a...

Hi all,

I need to purchase a water bath.
There's one that all the suppliers seem to sell that needs a hotplate to operate, are there any that operate independently?
What are your suggestions for a good but reasonably priced unit?
Under or around $1000.00?

Thanks
Helen.

Merilyn1 wrote: ↑10 May 2022, 10:26 Haines - they were the Youtility bottles I was talking about

ah ok, thanks

Merilyn1 wrote: ↑10 May 2022, 08:43 I've bought the 1L ones for stock solution and some of the 500mL ones which I keep just for making agar. Great for people without man-hands!

Merilyn, where did you find the 500ml ones?

Thanks Merilyn and Labbie!

Hi all,

I have done a search here and found a couple of recipes, but does anyone have a tried and true recipe for acidified potassium permanganate?
I need it for Friday, so should it be made up freshly on Friday morning?

TIA,
Helen

Thanks Prima and RosalieL,
I do have a recipe for the psyllium husk one, haven't made it up though! I'll leave this till next year now.....

mtg wrote: ↑23 Nov 2021, 12:12 Same. Used to work years ago and now it doesn't really slime. I think the PVA must have changed.

It's annoying! I'm using the same glue I used a few years ago....we had litres and litres of the stuff!