Australia's Science Forum

Hi RosalieM I have an old "Manual for School Assistants Working in Science" that I use at times and it says Sudan III : Make a saturated solution of sudan III in equal parts of 70% ethanol and acetone. Then dilute this solution by taking 6 parts of it to 4 parts of ethanol ." I have n...

I'm exceedingly jealous......I want a dishwasher, ANY dishwasher (hmmm be careful what I wish for?)
Sue G

Hi Krysia Lee You can use 2 speakers emitting the same frequency (from a sound box or signal generator)but placed in different corners of the room so the sound waves "overlap" slightly out of phase. This will produce area where it is louder (added) or softer/ none (cancelled). I found this...

Hi everyone, I hope those who had hols had nice ones. :D Sorry Lisa and Ian, only got back today (don't have access from home). Lisa, Westlab have been reasonably good with their delivery - depends whether they have it in stock. Best to ring and check specific goods. Ian, I bought some Schott Duran ...

Hi I have been very careful the last couple of years with what I get from Serrata. I branched out to Westlab mainly because all their chemicals were Chemsupply (good price) and the MSDS are on line. I had some trouble with them too, on non catalogue items they quoted part numbers and prices and then...

Hi Noona What are you doing at work at 10 mins to 7am? Toooo early! :D Only in the English language would transposing a letter give you another word! I'd love to hear your HT "singing" the RA - "The Science Musical" :cheesy: :cheesy: :cheesy: Forgive me - it's the last day before...

Hi RosalieM Had the same problem when I came here. I used up some of the older stuff first but it depends on the substance. Dr Robb put a wonderful listing in the Wiki of shelf lives of most of the chemicals. If some of your bottles of chemicals are too old- maybe you should dispose of them and use ...

Hi Rosalie I have Silform chemicals in stock because they were ordered previously and they are painful to get MSDS's from. They are paranoid about their MSDS info being stolen, so they wont put it online. You have to fax them, then wait...... until they email them back - in Microsoft Publisher forma...

Hi Elizabeth In NSW, Workcover and OHS Regs state we are to use Manufacturers MSDS. I am in an Independent school, I use Manufacturers MSDS but I also use CSIS with caution(nothing else has yr level info etc).I have recently been able to update my CSIS to DET level (still not necessarily "up-to...

I wonder if the IGA staff were confusing it with something else? I rang the company who made the junket tablets years ago when I was having difficulty finding the tablets. The company and WW, Coles had decided the sales were not big enough to produce junket anymore. A group of employees of the compa...

Good idea RosalieM :clap3: I was only thinking in terms of disposal. If other labbie/s would like some I would gladly give it away! Only problem is how to transport it safely ?! :unsure: but I'm sure we can work something out! I'm in Newcastle, NSW. If anyone wants some mercury, as long as we work o...

Yes I had heard that the tablets were back in WW stores. I have been getting the junket powder (Simply Junket brand) from Franklins supermarkets for the last 2 years. Don't know whether I will go back to the tablets - they had to use mortar and pestles to crush them so - more washing up! Also they s...

Earlier this year I found a mercury thermometer had broken just at the tip of the bulb in the thermometer drawer in the prep room. :? I donned the breathing mask and gloves etc and used the Mercury Decontaminant powder we have. Worked well. All stuff "contaminated" by the mercury is in a l...

I'm with you macca and sunray 18! So many oooold chemicals! I have virtually every indicator powder under the sun - except the one I could have used today! Safranin (gram stain). I will have to buy some
Sue G

Hi
Rang a local chemist yesterday and they said they would take the sharps containers. They will also sell me a new one for $6! Can you get them elsewhere and are they any cheaper?
Regards
Sue G

Hi Jen The Science dept was one of the first to get Interactive Whiteboards in the school 4-5 years ago (this is my 3rd year). They got a full system where not only could the computer in the lab (and therefore the web) be put through the whiteboard, but videos could be put in video machines in the l...

Hi Robdean On Chemwatch (online) the Copper II Sulfate pentahydrate has changed to DG 6.1 but the Copper Sulfate basic and tribasic has stayed at DG 9. :? I use the manufacturers MSDS which is DG 9 but at least I have only one maufacturer for this chemical (I have up to 4 of some others!) If you hav...

Just adding to what Jazz said in the Sulfuric Acid post. Copper Sulfate is DG 6 on the online Chemwatch (Gold) when I looked today. I also have the Chemwatch (Blue) discs and it was DG 9 on the 2009/2 disk! 8O But.....I use the manufacturers MSDS and it was updated May 2009 (ChemSupply) and it was s...

I'm with you Annette, I don't think the microwave kills the bugs. I bought a new pressure cooker when I came here and it has all the safety features you could want, was not expensive and does a good job (I use oven bags to make the clean up easier). My microwaves at home keep breaking down in less t...

Hi Margaret and Rosalie I have every imaginable form of Naphthalene (they were here when I arrived) and we use them occassionally - so I don't think its banned although its a flammable solid. Mothballs (as Rosalie said) that you buy from the supermarket should be the same. Is it because you don't ha...