Search found 410 matches

by RosalieL
26 Mar 2024, 08:26
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Cleaning of Wicks Used in Alkanols prac
Replies: 6
Views: 229

Re: Cleaning of Wicks Used in Alkanols prac

We don't have enough spirit lamps at this school so unfortunately they do need to be reused (mainly due to the conductivity stars not being able to be used with bunsens these days, so we have to use the burners with metho). I just wash the wicks in hot water in the sink and let them air dry. I don't...
by RosalieL
18 Mar 2024, 13:03
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: frozen hearts - help!
Replies: 10
Views: 463

Re: frozen hearts - help!

Soak them in a bucket with nappysan overnight at least, then throw in the machine. What comes out comes out and what doesn't - depends how fussy your school is. President lab coats sell theirs for a pretty good price and great quality if you need to replace. These ones are brand new! This was the f...
by RosalieL
18 Mar 2024, 11:22
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: frozen hearts - help!
Replies: 10
Views: 463

Re: frozen hearts - help!

Following on... Some of the kids were quite messy and I wasn't able to wash the lab coats until this morning. The blood stains haven't come out - any suggestions as to how to get them back to white? I generally use the food tech washing machine and then put it through on an empty cycle afterwards bu...
by RosalieL
18 Mar 2024, 11:15
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: frozen hearts - help!
Replies: 10
Views: 463

Re: frozen hearts - help!

How did they go today ? It went well. One teacher didn't want the pluck yet so I'm hoping it's still ok when he decides to look at it. Everything finished defrosting enough in the fridge overnight. I will be asking if I can get them fresh next time I order. Individually packaged sounds much more co...
by RosalieL
18 Mar 2024, 11:08
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: Rubens Tube
Replies: 3
Views: 247

Re: Rubens Tube

I haven't purchased one, but cider house tech has them on their website.
by RosalieL
15 Mar 2024, 09:10
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: frozen hearts - help!
Replies: 10
Views: 463

Re: frozen hearts - help!

I will know for next time - thank you! The place I got them from gave them to me already frozen and smooshed together in a big bag. I defrosted them enough to separate into 2 class sets and then refroze so my concern was more the smell than the safety for eating. The last time we did this was how I ...
by RosalieL
14 Mar 2024, 13:35
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: frozen hearts - help!
Replies: 10
Views: 463

frozen hearts - help!

I have hearts (x16) and plucks (x2) that were frozen. I took them out at about 8:45am and at 2:30pm they still have ice on them! They are needed at 11am tomorrow. Is it too risky leaving them in my sink overnight? I was planning to put them in the fridge when I leave this afternoon... but I am worri...
by RosalieL
11 Mar 2024, 09:08
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for removal of chemicals
Replies: 10
Views: 647

Re: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for removal of chemicals

:cheesy: Ah yes... "sensible"... At my old school I discovered a broken mercury thermometer in one of my prep room drawers. I don't know how long it had been there and how long the little balls of mercury had been rolling around! I also had a not-at-all-sensible teacher (again, at my old s...
by RosalieL
11 Mar 2024, 08:43
Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
Topic: Free elements sets for schools
Replies: 30
Views: 5747

Re: Free elements sets for schools

That looks really good, macca!

Ours are still in their box. We don't have enough wall space to display them at this stage, but... "when we get new labs..." ...I will make sure they are up for all to see!
by RosalieL
07 Mar 2024, 14:17
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for removal of chemicals
Replies: 10
Views: 647

Re: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for removal of chemicals

I haven't heard anything about Mercury being banned from schools? The old thermometers have been for years. We still have a sample inside a small glass container sealed inside another labeled container for viewing only kids are allowed to feel the total weight of the container. RiskAssess still has...
by RosalieL
07 Mar 2024, 11:49
Forum: Safety with Chemicals
Topic: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for removal of chemicals
Replies: 10
Views: 647

Re: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for removal of chemicals

labbiejess wrote: 07 Mar 2024, 10:36

With regards to having mercury banned from schools since last year sometime is there a particular time that it needs to be removed from the premises? Where would I get this information from?

Is this an official thing? I haven't seen anything about it.
by RosalieL
05 Mar 2024, 11:38
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Limewater
Replies: 48
Views: 22730

Re: Limewater

I'm trying to set up my lime water still... Does anyone know what size rubber bung with 2 holes fits in the top of a winchester? I have ones that are too big or two small. I did find a cork one that fits (no holes) but none of the measurements match any of the 2 hole rubber bung options I've found ...
by RosalieL
05 Mar 2024, 09:30
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: Limewater
Replies: 48
Views: 22730

Re: Limewater

I'm trying to set up my lime water still... Does anyone know what size rubber bung with 2 holes fits in the top of a winchester? I have ones that are too big or two small. I did find a cork one that fits (no holes) but none of the measurements match any of the 2 hole rubber bung options I've found o...
by RosalieL
04 Mar 2024, 08:13
Forum: Biology, Physics...
Topic: rat dissection
Replies: 23
Views: 11904

Re: rat dissection

Where do you get your rats from these days? I got some frozen ones from raticoolreptile@hotmail.com a couple of years ago but haven't had a response to my email this year. Does anyone know if they are still in business?
by RosalieL
23 Feb 2024, 11:18
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: lab furniture
Replies: 3
Views: 562

Re: lab furniture

We are in conversation with westlab now. I wondered if there were other suppliers but they seem to be the only ones! What they have looks good so hopefully the school will agree to spend some $$...
by RosalieL
19 Feb 2024, 08:27
Forum: Sourcing Materials & Eq Repairs
Topic: lab furniture
Replies: 3
Views: 562

lab furniture

I have done a search for lab refurbishments but most seem to be quite old. We have been given 2 weeks to come up with suggestions/requests for an upgrade to one of our labs to make it prac-only because our class sizes have increased but not quite enough to add extra classes. Currently our labs have ...
by RosalieL
16 Feb 2024, 13:22
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Welcome back everyone
Replies: 18
Views: 1879

Re: Welcome back everyone

Merilyn1 wrote: 13 Feb 2024, 08:06 Maybe they just hit the ground and kept running, away...
ooohhh.... that sounds like a plan!!
by RosalieL
13 Feb 2024, 07:55
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Welcome back everyone
Replies: 18
Views: 1879

Re: Welcome back everyone

mtg wrote: 12 Feb 2024, 15:08 Welcome back to you all too. Invite all your labbie friends to get back onto chemtalk, I miss the daily discussions. It's a lonely job when you're the only school lab tech for miles.
I was thinking this yesterday as well! Very quiet. Perhaps everyone has hit the ground running this year?
by RosalieL
06 Feb 2024, 11:14
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: colour change when heated
Replies: 7
Views: 449

Re: colour change when heated

I did some further googling after posting here (I had done a little bit before asking) and found that Iron (III) oxide turns black at before 500deg then back to reddish brown at room temp so I'm going to give that a go.... I can remember years ago Smiley brought it up (sometime between 2007 and 2013...
by RosalieL
05 Feb 2024, 13:31
Forum: Recipes and Pracs
Topic: colour change when heated
Replies: 7
Views: 449

colour change when heated

Hi everyone, I need your help! What is a compound that changes colour when heated but doesn't actually undergo a chemical reaction? It just changes colour and then as it cools it returns to the original colour. I'm having a mental blank. I haven't done this one for a few years and despite searching ...