Search found 61 matches
- 28 Mar 2014, 09:46
- Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
- Topic: Cleaning Copper pieces
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5173
Cleaning Copper pieces
I have been asked to clean soft copper pieces that have been used for heating. I am hoping there is an easier way to do this than with steel wool and lots of manual scrubbing. Some pieces are coming up okay with minimal fuss but some are extremely hard to clean. Any suggestions?
- 19 Mar 2014, 11:48
- Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
- Topic: Year 10 DNA Pracs.
- Replies: 24
- Views: 14657
Re: Year 10 DNA Pracs.
Have just tried the extraction of DNA from strawberries with a great result (thought I had better try it first as we have never done this before). Much easier and cheaper and more impressive than the cheek cells extraction that used to be done with swishing gatorade. The recipe uses cold methylated ...
- 07 Feb 2014, 11:02
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: Insurance travelling while shopping for school
- Replies: 49
- Views: 15785
Re: Insurance travelling while shopping for school
I work in a small rural high school (just under 200 students atm) and we don't have access to delivery services. I look after both the science and food tech departments and do the shopping for both during school hours using my own vehicle (there is no school car) and I get reimbursed for mileage. I ...
- 13 Nov 2013, 09:27
- Forum: Safety with Chemicals
- Topic: Risk Assessment
- Replies: 44
- Views: 21098
Re: Risk Assessment
Gave all the information about Risk Assess program to the HOD last year and recommended we use it however he says that as far as the risk assessment goes we are covered under CSIS therefore the program is not necessary. Science orders are filled out on a requistion form and sticky taped to my bench....
- 31 Oct 2013, 13:52
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: Science and Engineering Challenge
- Replies: 19
- Views: 7322
Re: Science and Engineering Challenge
Congratulations Wayne on your school getting so far in the competition. We came 2nd, only 48 points behind the winner. Thanks Loopy for the recognition that Wayne and I deserve for our superior service that got our schools so far. :cheesy: If only our schools recognised our superior service as well ...
- 29 Oct 2013, 11:52
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: Science and Engineering Challenge
- Replies: 19
- Views: 7322
Re: Science and Engineering Challenge
The Henry Lawson High School won the NSW title so we are off to Lismore too. Therefore I can't wish your school success, Wayne 8-[ Unfortunately as our finals were held later than other states, all accomodation at Lismore was booked out and as a result we are chartering a plane and doing it all in o...
- 28 Oct 2013, 11:36
- Forum: Chemistry and Labware - General
- Topic: chemical Register
- Replies: 38
- Views: 14359
Re: chemical Register
I am responsible for doing the whole school chemical stocktake (this includes things like gluesticks) and use an Excel spreadsheet but this is only updated once a year. Once completed, paper copies of the chemical register go to principal, chairperson WHS and one stays in prep room. Electronic versi...
- 16 Sep 2013, 14:44
- Forum: The Polling Booth
- Topic: Do you help with your Science Budet
- Replies: 18
- Views: 15574
Re: Do you help with your Science Budet
I help spend our science budget but don't have an input into the forming of it. The HOD keeps tabs and tells me when we are starting to run out.
- 11 Sep 2013, 10:30
- Forum: Recipes and Pracs
- Topic: Boiling Metho
- Replies: 10
- Views: 4993
Re: Boiling Metho
Actually I don't know what the kids are extracting - could be chlorophyll. All I know is it involves boiling water, boiling metho, soaking in lugol's iodine and drying on paper towel. Definitely will be using water bath and hot plate. All the teacher told me when questioned about the safety issue of...
- 09 Sep 2013, 13:26
- Forum: Recipes and Pracs
- Topic: Boiling Metho
- Replies: 10
- Views: 4993
Boiling Metho
I have been asked to boil metho for a prac (and keep it boiling for a while) Any suggestions on how to do this safely?
- 20 Aug 2013, 14:39
- Forum: Recipes and Pracs
- Topic: Does Calcium Hydroxide deteriorate?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3487
Re: Does Calcium Hydroxide deteriorate?
Thanks for your quick replies. I added more powder to the bulk solution I had, shook it throughout the day then filtered a small amount to test with a straw and it worked. I'm so happy!
- 19 Aug 2013, 15:15
- Forum: Recipes and Pracs
- Topic: Does Calcium Hydroxide deteriorate?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3487
Does Calcium Hydroxide deteriorate?
I have tried making calcium hydroxide solution from "The Laboratory" book however it hasn't been going milky in experiments. Does anyone have any ideas as I need "workable" solutions for a yr 10 prac test.
- 21 May 2013, 11:50
- Forum: Recipes and Pracs
- Topic: dna extraction from cheek cells
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4558
Re: dna extraction from cheek cells
Thanks for clarifying that. The teacher concerned thought that swishing the liquid in the mouth was okay instead of actually scraping the cheek. After looking at what's involved in the experiment, I must say I am pleased I don't have to worry about it.
- 20 May 2013, 15:18
- Forum: Recipes and Pracs
- Topic: dna extraction from cheek cells
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4558
Re: dna extraction from cheek cells
I have been asked to buy some Gaterade for Yr 10 to extract DNA from their cheeks and from what I've read on here it would seem that this experiment is not allowed in NSW government schools. Is this correct?
- 11 Apr 2013, 14:54
- Forum: Safety with Chemicals
- Topic: What the ....!!!!????????
- Replies: 30
- Views: 10616
Re: What the ....!!!!????????
At the end of last year I walked into my chem storeroom and lo and behold found a baby brown snake curled up on the floor. Fortunately it was cool enough in there that the snake was sluggish enough to wait quietly for the GA to come and relocate it. Somehow it had managed to slither under the prep r...
- 01 Nov 2012, 11:11
- Forum: Recipes and Pracs
- Topic: Bullock eyes
- Replies: 14
- Views: 4942
Re: Bullock eyes
I buy bulls eyes from the local IGA butcher section. I ring the order through and they get them in for me. Never had any trouble with ordering. Being bigger than sheep eyes, it is easier for the junior classes to disect them
- 09 Aug 2012, 10:49
- Forum: Recipes and Pracs
- Topic: Science Focus users
- Replies: 17
- Views: 6208
Re: Science Focus users
Thanks for all those ideas. We still do the swishing of the mouth with gatorade prac with Yr 10 but I will certainly be suggesting these other alternatives.
- 30 Mar 2012, 12:15
- Forum: Safety with Chemicals
- Topic: venting of cabinets/chemical storage in hot weather
- Replies: 27
- Views: 8927
Re: venting of cabinets/chemical storage in hot weather
In the new science building my chemical storeroom has an exhaust fan which I need to turn on before I enter the room however the flammables cupboard inside the chemical storeroom is not ventilated so I hold my breath while I retrieve chemicals from it - ridiculous.
- 14 Nov 2011, 11:15
- Forum: Announcements
- Topic: PD day on chemical security
- Replies: 76
- Views: 23239
Re: PD day on chemical security
Elizabeth, you are not alone. I too have been unable to login to view the PD presentation. I have sent an email to the webmaster and am waiting on a reply.
- 09 Jun 2011, 09:35
- Forum: Forum Support Desk
- Topic: Stools in labs
- Replies: 14
- Views: 12586
Re: Stools in labs
Our new lab has a wet/dry classroom so students have access to tables and chairs in the dry classroom. Stools are only ever brought out for senior students if needed in the lab otherwise they stand. If we kept stools permanently in the wet area, the junior students would not be able to resist rockin...