These spray can products are recommended for water-proofing/sealing of dropper bottle and reagent bottle labels: Micador Permanent Matt Finish, from SupplyWest Bookland Wattyl’s Estapol White Knight Satin Crystal Clear Acrylic, available from Bunnings Please note that all spray cans need to be stored in a metal box so they don’t become missiles in the event…
Technical Tips
Saliva substitute:
Use 1-3% diatase, which is free from reducing sugars,or 1% bacterial amylase. These chemicals are available from Southern Biological.
Safety spectacle cleaning:
Most Technicians put safety glasses through the dishwasher at the end of term, although there is evidence that dishwasher detergent damages the plastic so it’s probably best to put them through without it. These are some of the products used to clean the glasses or provided in each lab for students to use: diluted Dettol,…
Rock Storage:
Try tool trolleys from Bunnings; they are heavy duty. Most are lockable. Use an old set of metal pigeon holes with wheels so it can be moved when needed. Use Decor ones from Woolworths. Colour coded sedimentary -blue, igneous – red and metamorphic – yellow. Paint each rock a small patch with some white paint…
Quadrats:
Question: The students have just used and demolished my flash quadrats. They are made out of the white reticulation pipe and then filled with sand. However, I think this stuff perishes and goes brittle after a few years as the quadrats seem to have just fallen to bits. This has got me to wondering –…
Potometers:
1. To make your own potometer, just bend a 40cm piece of glass tubing a third of the way down. Attach a 10cm piece of rubber tubing to the longer end. Use an appropriate size stopper with a hole in it at the other end of the rubber tube. Or:you could just buy one from…
pH solutions:
RECIPE 1: pH 2: 25ml 0.2M potassium chloride plus 13ml 0.1M hydrochloric acid made up to 250ml with distilled water. pH 6: 50ml 0.1M KH2PO4 potassium dihydrogen phosphate (potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate) plus 5.6ml 0.1M Sodium hydroxide made up to 250ml with distilled water. pH 10: 25ml 0.2M potassium chloride plus 50ml 0.1M boric acid (H3BO3)…
Nutrient agar:
For 18 to 20 plates: 5g commercial Nutrient Broth (a powder) from Southern Biological (Or 1g Beef Stock Powder & 2g Peptone) 10g agar powder 500 ml distilled water. Weigh agar. Add water, stir until dissolved. Add nutrient broth. Heat carefully until boiling. Don’t boil over. Pour into Schott bottles-with the blue cap. Put cap…
Nut substitutes:
Substitutes for the nut-burning experiment include Cheezels, Dorrito’s, potato chips, Vegie Chips, marshmallows, Tiny Teddies, Twisties, corn chips, Burger Rings or Pringles. The higher the fat content the better, so check the label.
Methylene Blue stain removal from microscope slides:
Soak the slides in a household bleach and detergent solution. Put a warning label on the beaker indicating that it contains bleach. Rinse thoroughly after a day or two, wearing gloves, lab coat and safety spectacles.