Australia's Science Forum

Thank you Rae. Yes a different molarity. It's Monday and my head is still in weekend mode.
Lyn

lizzib,
I tried this with a 0.1M NaSO4 and added drops of universal indicator till the solution had enough colour to show a change. Try it out and if the strength isn't right try a different Molerage.
Lyn.

Macca, Try any of the following as a source for supply of sodium metal. Labtek Qld, Westlab Vic, Science Supply Australia Vic, Omega Scientific SA. You must have somewhere in your Science department catalogues for some of the above science supply companies. Ajax Finechem lists suppliers for each sta...

Robbie,
Have been checking the web and from what I can make out sodium silicate solid is difficult to dissolve unless a lot of heat is applied. Would be interested to know if you had any problems making up a solution of waterglass.
Lyn.

Hi Trish, The reaction you described is the usual reaction. If you want to show the bursting into flames place filter paper onto the surface of the water then place a small piece of sodium (rice grain size) onto the filter paper. It takes a short while to react and should burst into flames. If you c...

Hi Sue, Use mushroom's recipe with the litmus granules . Either filter or let the solution sit and decant into another container. What you now have is blue litmus solution. If the colour doesn't look quite blue, stabilise solution with a few drops of 2M NaOH. If you require red litmus solution add a...

Lisa, Omega Scientific is the current contract supplier for the Science Equipment Scheme which is coordinated and managed by the DECS Health and Safety services in SA. There is a web site and the supplier should be able to send you the 2009 Science Equipment Scheme catalogue. The LPG bunsen burners ...

Robyn, SWG means Standard Wire Gauge. It just means that wire size has been standardised. The higher the wire gauge number the smaller the diameter of the wire. So 16 gauge wire is thicker than a 24 gauge wire. Westlab Educational carry bare copper wire (14SWG to 32SWG)according to their catalogue a...

Hi everyone, I don't start till next week but I've popped into work occasionally to see what has taken place. Today I found twelve large boxes to be unpacked from a bulk order. The admin staff had put them all between two compactus in the prep room. It's like a mini mountain and it has to go before ...

If they are Y11 and Y12 pracs then the Chem teacher (in theory) is smart/capable enough to do his/her own RA's. Just provide a blank form using the same format as the junior science forms and duck for cover so you don't get roped in to doing it for the teacher. I haven't found any RA's provided for ...

`You need a batwing bunsen for melting glass rod or for doing any work with glass tubing. They have no collar and the diameter at the top is about 25mm with lots of fine holes. The flame is very low, burns blue and is very hot. Glass gets red hot. Just checked the Livingstone school catalogue and un...

Hey Smiley,
Probably not. It was a bit of an eyeopener though when I first arrived up here. Fascinating social and cultural structures just beyond the fenceline. Big learning curve into a part of Darwin lifestyle.
Lyn.

Hi Mushroom,
Raspberry cordial the flavour of the month. Years ago (80's) the non-indigenous longgrassers round here used it to disguise the purple colour of store bought metho. Personally a strong cuppa is a good fix. Hang in there it's almost Saturday.
Lyn.

Here in the Territory red phosphorus has made it onto our list of chemicals not permitted in schools. It hasn't been banned outright but apparently will no longer be supplied. It is a known drug precursor and requires an EUD (End User Declaration) for purchase. Which is probably why you are not find...

Your not alone in struggling to understand. I've been in this job for over 25 years and I still struggle with the job and the knowledge I am supposed to have and don't. I pretty much had the junior science sussed out but taking over the senior science as well was a nightmare. Organics/inorganics, ha...

Why doesn't your Science dept get textbooks on approval and check out the different formats within the texts. We have a variety of textbooks including Science World 9 (useful for some units, class sets in labs) , Science Quest (teacher reference), Science for Life (Year 7) and our current textbooks ...

Thanks Pommy. Considering the chemical cocktail that emanates from my fridge everytime I open it I'm not surprised at the possible consequences. Doesn't make me feel too safe either. Here was me thinking it was just my lungs and brain I was destroying!!!!
Lyn.

I thought that Bromine water was stored in the fridge. When I became lab tech for all year levels the previous lab tech stored the bromine water in the fridge and that is how I have left it. Can someone out there please clarify as my fridge is used for storing some chemicals including Hydrogen perox...

My first suggestion is to kiss them goodbye. Second suggestion is to soak for a very long time in the fabulous napisan of which I use the generic/cheaper brands packaged by the big supermarkets. It is the same strength of sodium percarbonate 346g/kg. I had some very plaster encrusted plastic beakers...

It makes one wonder what the Department of Education in NSW has to hide or what they are not willing to face up to.
Lyn.