Australia's Science Forum

Hi Rainbow Sky,
I bought a new belt this year, as the other was a bit stretched. Then I gave the Van der Graff a good polish. Works a beauty now. Had to post a warning for users !!

Hi Sassi,
From experience, Benedict's does go off, but I must admit, the stuff was old! I now test what's in the bottle before it goes out to the classroom.
Ellice.

Hi all, I attended an OHS Management Training day run by AIS last week, and I have a query about RA's. The presenter provided us with a protype of an RA form, and I have picked up a few others from different schools, and we are hoping to get a system in progress next year. Our staff are feeling daun...

Hi Sue,
Could I have a copy as well please. Fax 02 42200201 Attn Ellice Brown.
Thanks, E.

Hi all,
I thought the Mentos had to be the US variety. Apparently, they are more 'dimply' (more surface area) than the Oz ones. We have used Alka Seltzer and water in film cannisters, and it works well.
Ellice.

Hi Ian, Yes, I'm going. Was hoping to find out about Risk Assessments, among other things. I need a bit of guidance in that area. I have a few different forms from various schools and people(including Robb), and am hopingto get some sort of system in place for next year. Anyone else going? Ellice.

I tend to make it up as it's needed, as it needs to be fresh. So I have 0.3g KMnO4 in a 200mL beaker, and fill to 200mL mark with 1M H2SO4 (or 1.6g to 1L). This gives about 8 dropper bottles.
Regards, Ellice.

Hi Robyn,
I use one out of an old Chemtext text book (1988 ed). I colour photocopy it, then laminate. It has about ten different indicators on it, and shows the colour changes over pH 0-14.
Hope this helps,
Ellice.

We keep a stock of small test tubes (7x1cm) for burning sugar. Then I just throw them away!

Hi all,
We are in the middle of Enzyme pracs as well, and trying the egg white and Pepsin for the first time. Do you use raw egg or cooked? The Pepsin is quite old. Could this be affecting results?
Ellice.

Hi Judy,
We recently titrated silver nitrate against a salt soln using potassium chromate as the indicator, but the salt soln was the unknown, and we said the silver nitrate was 0.1M.
Hope this helps.
Ellice.

Methylene Blue comes to mind.

Hi Stirrers, I was once defrosting frozen eyeballs in the staffroom microwave, and they started exploding! We now have our own microwave in Science. I often ask if I can defrost frozen rats, just to get a reaction. If they know there's a dissection on, they stay away. It's fun making out you're a we...

Hi Lorrae, I noticed we have in the Chem Store the following - methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), ethyl acatate (rum?), and methyl acatate (nail polish remover?). We must have purchased them from somewhere! Hope this helps, otherwise the flavours from the supermarket sound good. Regards, Ellice.

Hi all, Does anybody do this prac with Y12? We never seem to have much success. Have tried different strengths of Ammonia, and regardind the CO2, have been generating with Calcium carbonate and HCl, but am thinking of getting some dry ice and giving that a go. Any suggestions would be appreciated. R...

We used to do this experiment using alfalfa sprouts, but have since resorted to prepared slides.

Hi Alice, We have a skeleton, which just shows bone structure, but one thing we do is keep it in a cupboard (specially built) and out of sight. Over the years, that was the first thing to go if there was a break in. Security has improved vastly everywhere now, so maybe this isn't a concern anymore. ...

Hi Robb,
Could I also trouble you for a copy of your RA form. Please fax to Ellice Brown 42200201.
Many thanks.

I read in our local paper last week, of a prank that lead to the poisoning of eight students from Ambarvale High School. Apparently they swallowed copper sulfate. Does anyone know what happened?

Sometimes I throw the nails into some HCl, bit of a fizz, then PRESTO! new nails!