Australia's Science Forum

I always use gelatine. It don't stink like egg!!

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We have a faculty meeting once a fortnight, and I am made to feel very welcome by the HOD. The others are a bit wary, as I usually tell them a few home truths, like how messy they leave the labs, writing on the desks is getting out of hand, doors aren't being locked, etc. I find it's a good way to k...

We just had Year 8 return from Kangaroo Valley with a skull. Think it's a kangaroo!! Anyway, I put it in a beaker of water and stewed it on low heat for most of the day, then gave it a good scrub with a test tube brush. Looks terrific.

We use micro burners with micro distillation sets. Really just a baby bunsen!

Hi all in labbie land, We have a couple of Ohaus balances 401, and the metal pan which sits on the top, has broken. Would anyone have any replacement pans, or know where I could buy some? The supplier (Livingstone) hasn't been very helpful, and the balances themselves cost $332. Does anyone have Foc...

Hi Sassi,
Having trouble getting the prac through, and wondered if you could fax it on 42200201.
Many thanks, Ellice.

Here's a good one for showing stomata.
Paint the bottom of various leaves with clear nail polish. Dry, then peel off with forceps. Place on slide and place a cover slip over it to flatten it. Agapanthus works well.
Cheers, Ellice.

Hi Sassi,
Could I also have a copy of the capsicum enzyme prac please?
Many thanks, Ellice.

Fax (02)42200201 Attn Ellice Brown, Science.

It is interesting to read all the different set ups in schools. We had all our labs refurbished four years ago, and I now have A/C in the prep room. There is a separate room for chemical storage which is ventilated 24/7. I have a 250L flammables cupd in the Prep room, and I must admit, I don't have ...

Dear Rainbow-sky, Found a bottle of the stuff with "CORROSIVE" all over it! I remember making it along time ago for cellulose testing, which we don't seem to do anymore. Also found a hand written recipe 20g ZnCl2 1g KI 0.5g Iodine Add ZnCl2 to 8.5mL water and warm to dissolve. Cool. Prepar...

The Serrata catalogue is a shocker!!! It's very pretty,but it takes ages to find anything!!!

I always thought that red phos had to be kept under oil as it absorbed water - became explosive???
Had a look at mine, and it definitely looks oily!
I can remember white phos being stored under water, as ignited spontaneously in air (long time banned in schools), and red was under water.

I'm not sure of the flowers, but I have used beetroot, spinach, red and brown onion skins, fennel and wattle along with red cabbage for dyeing calico. We change the colour by adding mordants (alum, copper sulfate, cream of tartar, vinegar, bicarb soda, salt, ammonia) These would produce pH changes, ...

We now have a sick bay, with two of the support staff at Student reception trained for first aid. The rule is everyone goes to sick bay. (I do keep a few band aids for minor scratches, and all burns go under water here straight away). In each teacher drawer there is a thick dressing/pad in case of h...

Yeah, with all the paper work required, it starts to become too hard to keep animals.
What about some plants? Shell or fossil collection?

Hi Liz,
We sometimes dissect rats with Bio classes. I order them from Southern Biological (preserved-last for years). I get a range of male and female, and always ask for some pregnant.
Regards, Ellice.

We do something similar, but we call them SRA's (Science research assignments). I have all Yr 10 doing their own, and Yr 9 in groups of three. It's a nightmare! Even the teachers are sick of them, and we are hoping the HOD will change it to the kids doing it at home. Who cares if they get help! I'm ...

Hi Rosalie, I have just got a good brew going, but it has taken all week. I had some pond water and added some hay, then after two days added a couple of oats. I could see the little buggers growing day by day. By today, it's like Pitt St! Worth the effort, but takes time. Ellice.

Hi Sassi,
4 x Yr7
4 x Yr8
4 x Yr9
5 x Yr10
8 x Yr11(Bio, Chem, Phys, EES)
7 x Yr12 "
Six labs.
Cheers, Ellice.