Skip to content
LABNETWEST Inc.
Supporting Science Technicians in WA's independent schools
  • Home
  • About
    • About LABNETWEST
    • Membership
    • Constitution
  • Resources
    • Professional Standards
    • Articles
    • Experiments
    • Keeping busy at school
    • Technical Tips
    • Sustainability
    • Public and independent advisory institutions
    • Useful websites related to science curriculum
    • Science ASSIST
    • ASSIST – List of Recommended Chemicals
  • Members
    • Committee 2020/ 2021
    • Conditions of Use – Email system
    • Minutes
    • Suppliers
    • Science ASSIST Suppliers List
    • Australian Standards
  • Contact
  • Next Meeting /Updates

Advice

Saliva substitute:

26/10/2016

Use 1-3% diatase, which is free from reducing sugars,or 1% bacterial amylase. These chemicals are available from Southern Biological.

Incubator alternatives:

26/10/2016

Here are tips for growing cultures without an incubator or a warm place such as a hot water system. Use a 40w incandescent globe, still available from Kmart and Big W but not Bunnings. Place petri dishes side by side and cover them with black plastic (bin liner). To keep a check on the temperature,…

Continue

Hydrogen Pop Test -Dangers:

26/10/2016

Although most people have not had a problem with the hydrogen “pop” test, some schools have, with several cases of test tubes exploding and injuring students. It seems to be either inferior glassware, or students doing the pop test too close to the Hydrogen gas source, or a combination of both. It is recommended that…

Continue

Electro-magnets:

02/10/2016

Question: Has anyone a good design for electro-magnets that actually works? It seems the designs in the texts are rather weak and not very effective. Answer: In order to have sufficient current passing through the wire, the wire must be rated to carry at least 3 amps. Wire of this thickness can cause the electromagnet…

Continue

Vitamin C content of fruit:

20/08/2016

Question: Does anyone have information on how to test the Vitamin C content of different fruits? Answer: We do a simple practical using 5 different juices: freshly squeezed orange juice, bottled 100 percent cordial, lemon juice and boiled orange juice as comparisons. You could also use grapefruit but note that if you were using, for…

Continue

Sherbet:

20/08/2016

Question: Does anyone have a recipe for sherbet which includes jelly crystals please? Answer: I tried many recipes, and the winners are: First prize: icing sugar 1 tablespoon Bicarb soda (Sodium hydrogen carbonate) quarter teaspoon citric acid quarter teaspoon jelly crystals 1 teaspoon Second prize: Bicarb soda 1 teaspoon icing sugar 10 teaspoons citric acid…

Continue

Science Snacks:

20/08/2016

http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks Science Snacks are miniature versions of some of the most popular exhibits at the Exploratorium, San Francisco.

Lemon Battery:

20/08/2016

Question: Does anyone have any tips on how to make the lemon battery work? We are using Jacaranda Science Book 2, page 231. Answer: For best results with a lemon battery use BROAD pieces of zinc and copper (1-2cm wide, roughly polished with sandpaper). Use a high impedance meter (any digital multimeter) to monitor the…

Continue

Flame tests:

20/08/2016

Question: Our text-book says to burn 2M solutions for flame tests, and I have tried solids too, but IT DOES NOT WORK! Can you please tell me what you do, and what actually works? Answer: Buy flame test bottles (atomisers) from Haines Educational. Use the following: All 0.5 M. Copper sulfate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride,…

Continue

Fingerprints-latent:

20/08/2016

Question: Gentian Violet for fingerprinting is a banned substance now and is not procurable any more. Are there any alternatives? Answer: 1. On wood in silver nitrate. 2. Finger prints on filter paper in iodine chamber. Use a fume hood. Put fingerprints on filter paper and attach a paper clip and cotton thread to it,…

Continue

Older Posts

Explore

Search for:

 

  • Home
  • About
  • Resources
  • Members
  • Contact
  • Next Meeting /Updates
Copyright © 2021 LABNETWEST inc. All rights reserved.