#1 Science Forum For Lab Technicians

Maybe a bit of both. I think we're over-cautious regarding borax, but I deplore the use of herbicides and pesticides by untrained people. The effect on biodiversity is overwhelming bad. I have my ChemCert card, and I think you should be unable to buy such toxins without one.

And I can't believe they sell pesticides and herbicides to untrained people. Don't get me started.

And yet you can buy it at Bunnings for household cleaning and laundering.

But teachers have legal obligations regarding student welfare that are different to other staff. You would not be allowed to run a class in the absence of a teacher, so someone has to step up and take responsibilty.

If it was me, I'd get one of the teachers to sign as well. The legality of you signing both sections is a bit doubtful. CYA.

We take ours to the local tip for recycling. Check with your council.

Small amounts such as from spotting plates are fine to go down the sink.

I did it too - so good!

Ten of these lighters plus ten flint refills from Hampdon Industries for $53 including shipping! Yippee!

They look amazing. Do they also sell replacement flints?

I forgot to mention - when I have silver waste, I add 1M NaCl to the waste. Give it a stir, and wait. When the solution goes clear, decant the clear stuff down the sink, and silver salts remain at the bottom. It cuts down on the volume that needs to be collected as waste.

Yeah, I wouldn't be chucking out silver nitrate either.

Thanks, bigmack. Approximately 0.05g. Or, a bit on the tip of a spatula one cm wide. Start off small and add more until you get to the right colour.

For this prac, I follow the intsructions on page 136 of "The Laboratory" by Barbara Dungey. Boil the agar, add the sodium hydroxide, stir constantly, blah blah blah. But instead of wasting my life adding the indicator drop by drop (who has time for that? It's ridiculous), I add a tiny bit ...

Sodium alginate is expensive but buying it in Gaviscon may be a false economy. We bought 100g and it's lasted several years.

high voltage power supply Potential hazards POSSIBILITY OF ELECTRIC SHOCK AND ELECTROCUTION; check cable, cable entry and plug before each use. Level of risk depends on output voltage and current. Standard handling procedures Inspect regularly for signs of damage to cord, cord loose in plug, cord lo...

Don't bromine water, cyclohexane etc. have to be used in a fume cupboard? How will that happen? This prac is ridiculous.

We got some from Haines a while ago.

I doubt it's "cornflower". It may, however, be cornflour.

Oh they're for glass pipettes. Not for me then. Thanks anyway - and good to see you didn't just chuck them in the bin.