Search found 419 matches

by mtg
09 Sep 2024, 10:45
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Disposal of damaged lithium batteries
Replies: 12
Views: 1502

Re: Disposal of damaged lithium batteries

I had a Duracell AA explode, spat out the carbon rod. Aldi take old batteries, don't know about Lithium.
by mtg
09 Sep 2024, 10:30
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Dissection blocks
Replies: 21
Views: 6153

Re: Dissection blocks

What are people currently using for dissection trays? We have a heap of ice cream container lids but the bio teacher has requested actual dissection trays. Upon searching, I can only find the wax ones. I've never used those before. At my previous school we had shallow grey trays but I must be using...
by mtg
19 Aug 2024, 13:58
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: science week
Replies: 8
Views: 1639

Re: science week

Here it depends on the teachers. Some years we do staff morning tea with the current theme, quizzes etc and student lunch time activities. This year we only did the escape room through Stile.
by mtg
19 Aug 2024, 13:54
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Radioactive sources -safe disposal
Replies: 8
Views: 1370

Re: Radioactive sources -safe disposal

The Cs-137 generator is actually really handy, I'd be surprised if you couldn't find another school in Tas to take it off your hands. It's a fast, simple, safe and clean way to show radiation decay in the classroom. I'd take it from you but we already have 2. I would ask your science teachers to co...
by mtg
19 Aug 2024, 13:47
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Calcium Oxide
Replies: 9
Views: 3415

Re: Calcium Oxide

I have a plastic jar of calcium oxide that I'm pretty sure hasn't been requested in the nearly 4 years I have been at this school. Is this chemical ever used?? I want to get rid of it. It is in a zip lock bag but the jar itself is quite expanded and I am paranoid of touching it and having it explod...
by mtg
16 Jul 2024, 09:57
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Norstedt Electricity sets -has anyone got a manual?
Replies: 1
Views: 7895

Re: Norstedt Electricity sets -has anyone got a manual?

Did you google it? I just did, looks brilliant. Bring it to our lab tech meeting and we can all problem solve it. Also send a pic to our ex mad physics teacher, SP. Also Harvey at Principles and Practise might know.
by mtg
16 Jul 2024, 09:53
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: sodium thiosulphate - and HCL
Replies: 14
Views: 5231

Re: sodium thiosulphate - and HCL

Use for classic rate of reaction experiments, to show/measure how temperature and concentration effect the rate. Use 2M HCl and 0.25M sodium thiosulphate. The two chemicals react to form a sulphur colloid makingthe solution cloudy. The time taken for the precipitate to obscure a cross marked on a p...
by mtg
15 Jul 2024, 12:36
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: tiny science labs
Replies: 1
Views: 1662

Re: tiny science labs

I'd love to hear feedback too. We only have 1 designated prac room, set up to enable a second small class if required, but every so often I have a group work in my prep room, if a senior class is desperate. I have to push trolley loads of equipment to other rooms and these lab kits might be perfect.
by mtg
17 Jun 2024, 09:54
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Cleaning Glassware Fast!
Replies: 31
Views: 6579

Re: Cleaning Glassware Fast!

We do this prac every year, but chemtalk has an alternative to bromine water somewhere, iodine soln maybe? I recall only about 3 or 4 test tubes per prac though. Stinky and fumehood is critical.
by mtg
11 Jun 2024, 11:28
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Lab upgrade ideas 2024
Replies: 3
Views: 1957

Re: Lab upgrade ideas 2024

I have an actual small windowed room for display, like a shop front. It was where the corridor was blocked in though. I have a special high shelf for the airtrack. The equipment store room has windows to a classroom and glass shelving with big sliding melamine doors on my hand side so I have a stack...
by mtg
28 May 2024, 12:52
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Glass tubing
Replies: 25
Views: 4743

Re: Glass tubing

Thanks all. I may be blind, but I can't seem to find any from Haines or Science Supply Australia. I don't want the capillary tubing sets, just some capillary tube with one internal diameter. It's for several different uses, but specifically this time it is for a prac where they make thermometers - ...
by mtg
06 May 2024, 12:17
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Is this Cornflour ?
Replies: 14
Views: 4010

Re: Is this Cornflower ?

As it is in ziplock bags etc, I doubt it is harmful. Personally I'd just open it feel the texture and take it from there. Test the prac with it, if it works use gloves and do it, kids can't take it home anyway. Also what is the prac without borax that works? If it is used properly borax is no worse ...
by mtg
06 May 2024, 12:11
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: mini SDS
Replies: 18
Views: 4639

Re: mini SDS

As an ex-fire fighter who attended 2 school fires, we did not have time to be checking manifests in the event of a fully involved structure fire and they were both overnight so without a contact person on site there is no way to log on to the system anyway. It sounds nice in theory, but in reality ...
by mtg
15 Apr 2024, 15:46
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Chemical Storage
Replies: 14
Views: 13273

Re: Chemical Storage

My register/stocktaking document is off the Vic ed dept site. It is in alphabetical order, it tells you chemical/substance, room for amount, container size, strength, hazardous substance, dangerous goods, dangerous goods class with description, sub catergory and packaging group. eg Acetic acid glaci...
by mtg
12 Feb 2024, 15:14
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: making cell models
Replies: 10
Views: 7569

Re: making cell models

They shouldn't eat science experiments so use gelatine. Personally I hate the smell so I use jelly crystals, and whatever, split peas, pasta, no lollies etc. I have all different pasta shapes dyed different colours for one cell prac and they glue them onto a bit of card. I think bits of wool for wig...
by mtg
12 Feb 2024, 15:08
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Welcome back everyone
Replies: 18
Views: 10294

Re: Welcome back everyone

Welcome back to you all too. Invite all your labbie friends to get back onto chemtalk, I miss the daily discussions. It's a lonely job when you're the only school lab tech for miles.
by mtg
12 Feb 2024, 15:06
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: colour change when heated
Replies: 7
Views: 4511

Re: colour change when heated

Keep me posted, I want to know if the iron oxide works.
by mtg
15 Nov 2023, 09:15
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: nickel sulfate
Replies: 11
Views: 16341

Re: nickel sulfate

I think the 0.1M is for precipitates. We use the foil for magnet pracs. Maybe the solid in crystal gardens. All waste is collected. PPE used. Dont touch it, drink it, or sniff it etc. Most of our chemicals will have associated dangers. You should always err on the side of caution and use PPE.
by mtg
08 Nov 2023, 08:07
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: McCartney Bottles
Replies: 2
Views: 5639

Re: McCartney Bottles

Use a stopper. I have a stack of lids that seem to fit lots of little bottles. Don't know where they came from though. I use little bottles for powder testing, keep them in kits.
by mtg
18 Oct 2023, 11:39
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Dresden ??? jar
Replies: 6
Views: 7075

Re: Dresden ??? jar

I would love to see a pic of the top and also of the rubber bung removed to have a better look at it but, I think the name is Dreschel Bottle It also seems to be called a Dressel bottle and a Drechsler bottle It is a Gas washing Jar as far as I can tell . Drechsler.jpg The inverted level marks I th...