Australia's Science Forum

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.

Not really chem reactions I guess. flower indicators. bi carb and vinegar for the acid and base, boil the different flowers and use the coloured liquid. pop corn for change of state. Use daffs with blue food dye for the transpiration prac. bi carb and vinegar into a balloon to collect gas. Lots of s...

I couldn't find an affordable one. Depends on your budget and quantity. But I store sodium in its jar that is then in a plastic container and the 4.3's are in a tub at the bottom of my shelving mid way as far as possible away from other 4's and the flammable cabinet. The oxidizers are in a (not) ven...

melsid wrote: ↑26 Jul 2021, 12:09 I light a candle and drip the wax onto the wells, it works every time!

Same. I used to put a bit of a toothpick in the wax but so hard, so now just melt a bit of wax too.

Yep, definitely go with the custom labels option. If you're not sure of what to include on the label, I go into the standard labelling first and note down what the label should be before making my own. Bigmack - we obviously need to beat Chemwatch out of you, strange because it usually destroys mos...

Depends on size, chemicals, and storage systems and age I guess. Before my rebuild I always made the organic waste into an ester, thus defeating the butyric acid, but now it is all pretty good, [since the teachers have (mostly) stopped accessing it]. The acid cupboard sucks though, half the concentr...

I store glassware and some non chemical kits in cardboard. My quick fit is still in a much mended original box.

I use the glass ones, clamp a hose on the end so the gas doesn't escape. To get rid of it bubble it out under water.

Percentage is "x" amount up to 100ml. I am partial to Cobalt Chloride but use all the required PPE, very nice in crystal gardens.

1/2 teaspoon of citric acid (acid), 1/4 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (base), 3 teaspoons of icing sugar. Mix and enjoy. Where does the fizz come from? (From Acids and bases) This is good for vegetarians too as there is no gelatine.,

We have done it as a forensic prac. Maybe for Yr 7 :- Elements? I think sometimes we have done it in yrs 7,8,9,10 and 11!!! I think we usually do it in yr 10. And then with spectroscopes etc as seniors. I usually go the toothpick dipped in water then salt then burnt. Demos might be best for yr 7 if ...

I access westlab from my lab pc, I have the schools/my account details. It's only for pricing just set up your own. I like them because I save on delivery (free over $100) and half the time I just ring them up anyway. They also came out and did a fantastic PD day for me and a few local labbies and g...

In a tub, sprayed with Glen 20. No-one died so it must work.

Labbie wrote: ↑16 Mar 2021, 11:51 I love it, 30 years is a long time. Lucky school.

If it hadn't given me a refurbish I would have left by now. 2 days a week as labbie. My teachers treat me very, very well, so I am lucky too.

Never heard of it! We do just the silver beet, H2O2 one now. Let us know how your prac goes because it's bound to come up in our schools sooner or later.

It's a liquid now. Which is unusual for this as we use so much. I think covid lock down might be the cause. All those common chems left unused for a year. Can't afford the delivery for 1 jar and I can use it for cleaning as it doesn't need to be collected as chem waste. I will probably use it for pH...

Thanks. It never used to be a problem, so although we clean the Mg I will get them to clean it 100% and I put out new crucibles but still didn't get a powder but a couple at least burnt the Mg a fair bit and got a slight weight increase.

My sodium hydroxide has liquefied and I was wondering how to make up a rough solution for junior chemistry. 1M ish

Its always exciting seeing what a new school has squirrelled away . Usually its the same ol same ol , but sometimes you come across some real gems you’ve never seen before . I’ve been at this school for over 5 years now and I still occasionally open a cupboard or drawer and think whoo , how have I ...