Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Request or contribute your recipes here. You can also try doing a search, as there are some old recipe posts which have not or cannot be moved over to this forum.
Post Reply
Prima
Posts: 150
Joined: 02 Dec 2014, 11:20
Job Title: Lab assistant
State/Location: NSW

Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by Prima »

I've got a lot of teachers wanting to do the Baggie Science experiment - CaCl2 or DampRid mixed with Bicarb soda and Universal indicator in a Ziploc bag. Any ideas on how I can reduce the plastic bag footprint? Last year I washed out all the bags and reused them as many times as possible but some teachers simply threw them away (despite my requests!) Trying really hard to send out the Reduce Reuse Recyle message - to staff as well as students!
User avatar
kimmy
Posts: 418
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: School Lab Assistant
School: Quirindi High School
Suburb: Quirindi
State/Location: NSW

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by kimmy »

You can do this with a photo canister type cartridge and the lid pops off. You don't get to see it expand though.
Prima
Posts: 150
Joined: 02 Dec 2014, 11:20
Job Title: Lab assistant
State/Location: NSW

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by Prima »

Great suggestion, thanks kimmy!
User avatar
kimmy
Posts: 418
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: School Lab Assistant
School: Quirindi High School
Suburb: Quirindi
State/Location: NSW

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by kimmy »

we got a bag of canisters from ebay very cheap.
Marama T
Posts: 214
Joined: 01 Aug 2017, 12:19
Job Title: Laboratory technician
School: College
State/Location: NSW

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by Marama T »

GREAT to hear someone else is obsessed with the reduce reuse recycle mantra. I've got soft plastic recycling, recycling and compost bins in the prep room but I still need to remind people about them. We use the film canisters too, but with Alka-Seltzer and vinegar. Keep up the good work, Prima!
User avatar
fibreweb
Posts: 620
Joined: 20 Jul 2006, 10:00
School: Oxley High School
Suburb: Tamworth
State/Location: NSW

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by fibreweb »

Can you see the bubbles, colour change and feel the heat when it is done in a film canister?
Marama T
Posts: 214
Joined: 01 Aug 2017, 12:19
Job Title: Laboratory technician
School: College
State/Location: NSW

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by Marama T »

Clearly not. Nonetheless, my school uses the canisters. I still end washing a lot of zip-lock bags for other stuff, so I'm fine with it either way.
bigmack
Posts: 816
Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
Job Title: Lab Technician
School: FCAC
State/Location: QLD

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by bigmack »

What about using a test tube with a balloon on the end ?
User avatar
kimmy
Posts: 418
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: School Lab Assistant
School: Quirindi High School
Suburb: Quirindi
State/Location: NSW

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by kimmy »

Using a balloon would be the same as a zip lock bag as in non reusable.

We have clear canister that I got off ebay, although not a see through as a zip lock bag you can still see it fizz up.

Hard to be able to cover all areas of reuse, reduce and recycle.
Marama T
Posts: 214
Joined: 01 Aug 2017, 12:19
Job Title: Laboratory technician
School: College
State/Location: NSW

REDcycle

Post by Marama T »

Has everyone heard of REDcycle? Plastic bags, cling wrap, bubble wrap and even chippy bags can be recycled. Collection points at most Coles and Woolies stores - check the REDcycle website for more details on collection points and recyclable materials.
Prima
Posts: 150
Joined: 02 Dec 2014, 11:20
Job Title: Lab assistant
State/Location: NSW

Re: Eco friendly Baggie Science?

Post by Prima »

Yes - I diligently take it all home and drop it off at Woolies when I eventually get there... I think my staff room thinks I am absolutely crazy but so what! All the little things count much more than the big things that politicians promise but never deliver!
Post Reply