Australia's Science Forum

Thanks Sue, I just received it. Some great ideas! I look forward to trying some out next year.
Rosalie

Are any of the above-mentioned recipes any good for junior kids? Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) have just completed a unit on dinosaurs and they borrowed our (very small) fossil collection. I mentioned these recipes I had read about here and they are interested for next year. They did the plaster fossils b...

I'm starting to think we will all be out of a job soon because eventually it will be decided that pracs require too much paperwork and teachers don't have time to worry about it! Perhaps it will become "OK kids, if we were to do a prac to demonstrate 'this', we would do 'that'. Let's have a loo...

If across the top of your flask is 29.5mm then any stopper which has a base less than 29.5 and a top of more than that should fit. I would do what Lada suggested and get a couple of samples. It doesn't really help you for this prac but at least you would have them for next year.
Rosalie

Our washed sand jar was dropped a few weeks ago. I didn't worry too much because I haven't seen it used for anything yet. Where do you get the sand to start with? And what is it used for?
Rosalie

I am a bit confused... what is the diameter of the flasks you are trying to get stoppers for? The rubber stoppers come in a multitude of sizes. Or are you trying to get the glass ones that just slip in?
Rosalie

Is that the diameter across the top of the flask? I just had a quick look in the Serrata catalogue (first one I laid my hands on) and they have rubber ones that are 32mm across the top, 24 at the base and 28mm high which would probably fit. I don't know about cutting them to size as I would imagine ...

Haven't had to deal with that problem, but bi-carb soda or napisan seems to work for just about anything. Worth a shot! Good luck
Rosalie

Thanks everyone. I have the book, Robyn, and it says HDPE is ok for strong acids so I'll give it a go. Thanks Lorrae for knowing what 2 is! I might actually put our 2M in the plastic bottle and put the 4M in the winchester just in case... Richard, what sort of plastic is your bottle?

Na2CO3 + 2HCl => 2NaCl + H2O + CO2

so you would need twice as much HCl compared to Na2CO3

Hi All, I have some plastic bottles ordered by accident (I switched numbers in the product code and it was easier to keep them than send them back). I can't find what type of plastic they are printed on the bottle anywhere. They are 5L jerry can style from Serrata. Does anyone have any of these? I j...

I would like a copy of the enzyme prac too, if you don't mind. Fax No 02 6762 1752. (Attn: Rosalie Murray)
Thank you!
Rosalie

Why are we so technology-dependent? If occured to me that I could use my brain and fingers to look you up in the phone book... Will head up to the office to send the fax.
Rosalie

Hi All, I don't have much information to work with here, but I am wondering if anyone out there knows about a prac which involves a measuring cylinder, universal indicator and probably a range of solutions which shows the gradient of ph. A teacher here was asking about it. I am guessing it looks a b...

Found it! I knew it couldn't be too far away. They are called Mini B, product code G12.35 from Southern Biological. What is your fax number and I can send it to you?
Rosalie

One of the catalogues we received recently was boasting about small glasses for juniors for around $10 each. It will be on my desk somewhere - can't be buried too deeply! When I fish it out I'll get back to you again.
Rosalie

Thanks for the ideas. I ended up emptying the bucket out onto the grass because I didn't want the mosquitoes to hatch out in the prep room - but perhaps I shouldn't have! It has been raining again (yay!!) so perhaps there will be some more. I'll go and check later. If there are some there I might ke...

Correction!!! The one we have is a Scout Pro (Ohaus), not Adam. I think we looked into Adam ones but decided to go with the Scout one because we already had one and know they are good. Sorry about that!
Rosalie

Well, it's not exactly a 'holiday' but I am going on a Yr11 biology trip to Dubbo Zoo tomorrow. Should be a good day. The girls have promised to provide a hat for me... but I think I'll play it safe and bring my own! Is anyone else going to the Zoo tomorrow?

We have an Adam one that goes to 4000g (I think) and it is fine to send out with the students. We are hoping to get some more for next year.