Search found 38 matches

by Matt_Coffs
25 Aug 2022, 12:35
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: HELP
Replies: 17
Views: 7065

Re: HELP

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for something to put on the end of our metal conductions stars that won't smoke too much. I've tried candle wax, vaseline and plasticine but all end up smoking a lot before the end of the experiment, even though small amounts are used. Any thoughts?

Thanks
by Matt_Coffs
09 Aug 2021, 12:59
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: 4.3 Dangerous when wet - storage cabinet
Replies: 1
Views: 2315

4.3 Dangerous when wet - storage cabinet

Good afternoon, Our sodium has always been stored in our flammables cabinet. I've been asked to buy calcium now too and am looking into alternative storage for both. If any of you have dedicated 4.3 storage cabinets, have you managed to find a small one for just a few bottles? Where from? Any other ...
by Matt_Coffs
12 Nov 2020, 10:41
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Spill trays
Replies: 6
Views: 4930

Re: Spill trays

Does anyone have spills trays / bunding for their whole shelves or do you have individual containers for each chemical? I'm looking at something like this for each shelf. https://bestbunding.com.au/collections/ ... -drip-tray
by Matt_Coffs
14 Oct 2020, 08:57
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: SDS for Food Tech?
Replies: 2
Views: 1969

SDS for Food Tech?

Hi everyone, Apologies if this has come up before but I couldn't find it..... The food tech assistant at my school has asked if she needs SDS for all her cooking ingredients, sauces, yeast etc. I'm assuming no because they're non hazardous substances that are being used for their intended purpose. I...
by Matt_Coffs
05 Dec 2019, 12:39
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Inventory of equipment
Replies: 7
Views: 6411

Re: Inventory of equipment

Our IT guy turned my spreadsheet into a database a few years ago. main advantage is the improved ability to search with key words and add pictures and electronic copies of instruction sheets etc. We have a notebook titled "Who has what" and everything that gets lent out around the schools ...
by Matt_Coffs
26 Nov 2019, 13:26
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Chemical waste bottles
Replies: 22
Views: 14498

Re: Chemical waste bottles

Hi Marama T, The riskassess disposal info is currently in the NEWS section at the bottom of the main page, although it says it'll be incorporated into other areas of the system in the future. At the moment we have a mixed metal waste bottle and organics. The list above was made up from the riskasses...
by Matt_Coffs
25 Nov 2019, 09:25
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Chemical waste bottles
Replies: 22
Views: 14498

Re: Chemical waste bottles

Hi bigmack,

We have mixed bottles at the moment. I'm not sure if it's cheaper or more materials can be recycled? I might have to ask the waste company when they do the pickup next year.
by Matt_Coffs
22 Nov 2019, 11:07
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Chemical waste bottles
Replies: 22
Views: 14498

Chemical waste bottles

Hi everyone, After looking at the recent Riskassess advice on disposal of chemical waste and in planning to pay for a collection early next year and starting again I thought i'd revisit our waste bottle setup. From reading the Riskassess info and the CSIS package this is what I came up with. Are the...
by Matt_Coffs
21 Nov 2018, 09:16
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Blue Bottle Experiment
Replies: 6
Views: 5799

Re: Blue Bottle Experiment

Mine starts out blue/clear then after a few hours it's purple/clear then finally its a yellowish colour that won't change. Use it for a few hours then make a new batch.
by Matt_Coffs
15 Nov 2018, 08:50
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Nitrogen Dioxide Equilibrium tubes NO2/N2O4
Replies: 3
Views: 4534

Re: Nitrogen Dioxide Equilibrium tubes NO2/N2O4

Hi Alison,

I've been emailing someone at Haines Educational. They're in the process of working out their costings, shipping etc for these tubes to see if it's viable for them to supply them. I'll personal message you their details and you could try them.

matt
by Matt_Coffs
14 Nov 2018, 07:15
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Reversible Reactions Prac?
Replies: 12
Views: 7767

Re: Reversible Reactions Prac?

My school generally generally follows the Riskassess chemical user groups but they are just recommendations. I guess it's up to school/department policies, head of faculties etc to decide how closely they are followed and the procedure in place if a teacher wants to work outside the recommendations....
by Matt_Coffs
18 Oct 2018, 10:30
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: nitrogen dioxide & dinitrogen tetroxide
Replies: 14
Views: 12017

nitrogen dioxide & dinitrogen tetroxide

Hi everyone, Now that nitrogen dioxide & dinitrogen tetroxide is now specified in the NSW chemistry syllabus in the equilibrium section, How is everyone doing it? We used to use nitric acid and copper wire in a fume hood but haven't done it in a few years. I've also read it can be made by heatin...
by Matt_Coffs
02 Oct 2018, 14:31
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Welcome back everyone to chemtalk
Replies: 26
Views: 18633

Re: Welcome back everyone to chemtalk

Great to have it back
by Matt_Coffs
13 Jun 2018, 10:22
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Rubber Stoppers
Replies: 18
Views: 12439

Re: Rubber Stoppers

The uni-stoppers from westlab are great. I've also got some silicone stoppers without holes from another supplier (can't remember which) and they remain soft much longer than the traditional rubber ones. If you're after something specific that you don't want to risk ordering online Clark Rubber have...
by Matt_Coffs
30 May 2018, 10:12
Forum: The Lab Tech Position
Topic: School Tours Holiday work
Replies: 5
Views: 6202

Re: School Tours Holiday work

When our other part-time lab tech retired part of the renegotiations of positions was that I do three weeks paid work during the holidays. One week in each of the shorter holidays. It's great for getting all the things done that get pushed aside during a busy term.
by Matt_Coffs
30 May 2018, 10:06
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: test tube holders
Replies: 6
Views: 4043

Re: test tube holders

I got one plastic one to try but it did melt quite quickly when it got close to the flame. I'll be staying with the wooden ones.
by Matt_Coffs
17 May 2018, 14:20
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Uses for starch packing beads
Replies: 4
Views: 4382

Uses for starch packing beads

Does anyone have good uses for the starch packing beads? We dissolve them to ... 1) make a quick starch solution 2) as little people by using toothpicks for arms and legs for genetics 3) burn them to heat water & calculate energy (2 starch beads heats 10ml of water about 15 degrees C). Any other...
by Matt_Coffs
11 Apr 2018, 13:58
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: New CSIS Online
Replies: 4
Views: 4442

Re: New CSIS Online

Any news on an updated CSIS package?
by Matt_Coffs
19 Mar 2018, 14:14
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Notice for experiments?
Replies: 8
Views: 6836

Notice for experiments?

I don't intend for this to be a whinge. I'm just hoping to make things run smoother. In the past I haven't had to worry too much about the amount of notice I require from teaches to get their experiments ready. I've managed keep up with things both organised and last minute. But lately i'm swamped a...
by Matt_Coffs
14 Feb 2018, 09:03
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: Junior Science
Replies: 1
Views: 4353

Re: Junior Science

We've used SPECTRA cards from Australian Science Teachers Association. Each card has a different topic with activities for the students to work through and get ticked off. http://asta.edu.au/resources/spectra