Australia's Science Forum

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..

Debbie wrote: ↑03 Dec 2015, 08:29 Hi Merilyn

I have a booklet of pracs/ideas that I have collected from various discussion lists and labbies over the years, but it is too big to attach here - If you pm me your email, I will send you a copy.

Have a great day
Debbie

Me too please. mary.gorman@education.vic.goc.au

Traffic light is good too

Blue Bottle Prac:- For future reference. Half fill a 1 litre flask with water and add 10g of sodium hydroxide (or dilute 125ml of 2M NaOH to 500ml) then add 10g glucose and up to 1 ml of a 1% solution of methylene blue. Stopper the flask and swirl to dissolve contents. I have the equations to explai...

Same. Used to work years ago and now it doesn't really slime. I think the PVA must have changed.

Re Stiles pracs, I modify and rewrite them if they suck. Our orders every single little thing has to be done online through compass, approved by the AP and my HOD, so now the teachers have to buy the last minute stuff.

New teacher just asked me if we had any more warming plates. "Judging by your laughter I guess I got the name wrong", yes she wanted evaporating basins.

Thanks Merilyn1

Thanks I had not heard of this.

They are more accurate than alcohol ones. I have kept a few up to 200 degrees and the 0 to 50 degrees. I think we have many dangerous chemicals in our charge and correct handling and disposal is critical. If you want analytical, under supervision only thermometers, then correct storage in a containe...

Well done! I was told by a virologist that unless we use blood agar we wont grow any viruses or animal diseases. But breathing in some of the bacteria and mould we grow cant be good.

I have a PSSC No.23 optical slits kit, firstly what is it, secondly what should be in it? It is primitive, but a lot of physics kits are just odd bits.

When we designed our new science space (with very limited room) we made stations with a sink 2 x bunsen outlets, power points and also terminals connected to my work spot, under their benches are cupboards with most of the equipment all classes would use. Expensive equipment must be requested. I als...

We made this for science week. Just the basics and the kids loved it. They mixed it the bags to there was less mess.