Australia's Science Forum

They like them for the Barium Sulphate experiment in Chemistry but I couldn't source them at the time. When I did find them they were expensive and a proper filter paper will do for school chemistry. I also looked at how you would clean them and wasn't impressed.

We have changed from paddlepop sticks which the little darlings would proceed to burn, to using unfolded paper clips. Just wet them and dip in the crystals. Work well.

Just re read your first post, and while I haven't got the info on conductivity, Sudan III is an oil based dye isn't it.

Last week I prepared a prac for Senior Science and it consisted of three green solutions in jars with lids so they could be shaken up. I don't have the book it came from, so I'm not sure what they were testing them for. All I know they had to look the same, so they were: Nickel Chloride a bit strong...

My sodium is in a jar (in oil) and on a shelf with the other flammable solids. ie nothing special really.

But are these bacteria safe to use?

Re the comb, I just scooped out little wells with a spatula after the gel was set. This was the instruction from the prac book. The comb holes look more professional no doubt, but probably get the same result.

Great pictures, thank you. Do you just use alfoil for the contacts? As this looks simpler that what we do. Come to think of it our gel sits in a salt solution. You don't seem to have any, is that right?

Doesn't start with Pep.. but what about Vegemite or beef stock powder or cube. You will need something if you're not using nutrient agar.

Ooops, got fuzz brain too. It should have read 1.25 g of sodium bicarbonate. sorry

This is how I would do it. For the sodium bicarbonate you will need 2.5g and 250ml water
For the Hcl 1ml and 249ml water. Not sure that this is correct, as we usually work in molarity don't we. But it is what I would do, and they probably won't know any differently.

Ours was replaced a couple of years ago with melamine lined board. So far so good.

Wow that is creepy. I think I will doubly keep my eyes peeled at Christmas when I visit my son in Darwin. Their house backs on to ponds, but I guess they can turn up where they haven't been before. Ewww..

Hi Loopy I totally agree with you. So many of the pracs in books are actually impractical with students. I think I might just say in future a no to that prac. Hi Bunsen That is exactly the prac. I might investigate making the resonance tube like yours as it would be good for a demo. Mind you if you ...

Good thought Smiley. They're not as tall obviously, but would serve the purpose probably. Thanks

Does anyone do the tuning fork and 250ml measuring cylinder prac as in Science Focus 1 page 145? It is just that to start with I only have 500ml glass measuring cylinders, and one always gets broken. It shouldn't but it does. Having just read the prac in the book, I was wondering if plastic ones cou...

At best the mats are a stop gap measure. It does not get away from the fact that the eyewash stations, like any basin with taps, should have a drain pipe. Try asking any council to put this in a building and see if they would approve it. Naah. Come to think of it, how do they get away with it in a s...

You need a good detergent like Morning Fresh. Apply some to a cleaning cloth and wipe the dishes or apply directly to the funnels and rinse in hot water. Powdered ajax will also dissolve the oil, but the detergent is easier to rinse off.

Funny... last two September 1sts I have started sneezing right on the start of spring!!!

We have had one of those wallfile sysems for years. At one stage the little clear stick on holders came off the heavier posters (I already had put double on some heavy ones), but it is a good system. Posters don't get used here either, now. I think I would be more inclined to chuck all posters out t...