Australia's Science Forum

macca wrote: ↑04 Mar 2022, 11:15 Hi, it's FRIDAY!!!

Can anyone tell where I could purchase a 19/26 500ml short neck round bottom flask from? I've searched my normal suppliers with no luck.

Maybe Haines, they made up my quick fit as the size we use was no longer available. They have 19/26 but not sure if they have a flask.

I have a year 10 prac which asks for "Normal Acetic acid" and 'Dilute Acetic acid', never had this before, I am guessing concentrate glacial acetic acid is not what the teacher wants, but I am tempted. What would you suggest? Factors which effect the rate of reaction. ((Possibly vinegar an...

I want some. My radioactive sources freaked me out when I first started so I contacted the Melb Uni, some boffins came and took them away. Now all I have is smoke alarms and the residual readings from dirt etc. It is worth studying what strength and sort of radioactive waves/isotopes you have. Most ...

RosalieL wrote: ↑24 Feb 2022, 09:05 At my old school they would have a Bunsen underneath (no gauze mat, just the triangle) and one aimed in the top with the lid held half on ready to just place down when it lit. Team effort and I’m pretty sure it was only seniors.

Glad I am not the only one Rosalie. Thank you.

I just read this thread again and after 30 years of doing flame tests realised saturated solutions are the go. I have been cleaning bunsens since the last flame test prac where the kids drop salts into the turret and block the jet.

I am going to just repeat what I have said for a few years, we cannot get the magnesium ribbon to burn, been going for the entire lesson, but alas it will not become MgO, it confounds me as we used to do it every year and it worked. Lift the lid off a bit, loose coil in the bottom of a crucible, big...

Thanks I will go with the 0.1M, but why would The Laboratory give bench strength that clearly doesn't work? I did double check with another book and it also gave 0.5M.

The Laboratory shows 0.5M is bench strength for Barium Nitrate, but at that strength (130.50g per litre) it wont dissolve. I have a prac for year 10 which requires Barium Nitrate solution. No recipe.No strength. help.

I just grabbed out an old MSDS. It says it contains Sulphuric acid, (composition: Sulphuric acid, Aluminium Potassium salt ) it also says hazardous. Mallinckrodt chemicals USA. WARNING harmful if swallowed or inhaled, causes irritation to skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Avoid contact with eyes, sk...

I gave up and chucked them all into a tub. :(

I shop around, for example Nisbets for trolleys, but Westlab have really upped their game. I ran a little PD day for local lab techs a couple of years ago and a Westlab rep came all the way out (in country Victoria) to do demos and answer our questions. Always worth a quick chat to Sales. They have ...

Same as everyone else. I do have heat proof gloves and some pracs require them. Heating metal rods if they have to change them for example. Or doing multiple pracs in a row if they have to move stuff.

I needed to get some equipment and chemicals for a prac urgently. Ended up doing 2 orders to Westlab. Rang to get them on the same delivery, (free over $100 online orders), but the 2nd delayed delivery confirmation email showed a delivery charge, a quick phone call and the delivery charge was immedi...

I understand. I have never had a spill in over 30 years, I had a teacher play with it back in the early 90's, and had broken thermometers etc. you can put a powder over it and suck it up. As I understand it, it vapourises at room temp and is absorbed thru' the skin. We are all wearing masks and we d...

I have a spill kit, can't remember where I got it, Westlab or Haines. I have a bit in a jar in a jar with a ball bearing floating on it. Supervision only. If you are careful it's OK. I think kids should get to see, and learn to respect, chemicals. Mercury is everywhere, in the oceans and the atmosph...

Interested to know if people are still doing this prac. We do distillation in year 7 with quickfit. Don't think we do and fractional distillation anymore.

No that's the junior one. I found Rainbow reaction that goes through all the colours using KI, NaS2O3, CH3COOH and the catalyst is H2O2, but I dont know how to dilute the 35% to 40vol now. Great prac but I wanted the the other one.

Does anyone know the reaction using ammonium molybdate? I vaguely remember sodium acetate? and that's it, maybe H2O2 as well. You make up 2 measuring cylinders and then put the catalyst in one and it goes through the rainbow colours.

Has anyone tried Bunnings Glitz Caustic Soda (NaOH)? It seems to be all sodium hydroxide and I dont have to pay heaps for delivery and a dangerous goods levy. My pure stuff absorbed moisture and I needed it immediately. Seems OK.

We have a big shoe or sock (or something), holder hanging on the end of the labcoat rack, but with covid I had to ensure they were glen 20'd after use, now they are back in the hanger. holds 20 so some are doubled up, and I have the tubs as well, like the cardboard idea too, I will try it out..