The consensus for disposal of old batteries: • Bunnings • Battery World • Coles/Woolworths/Aldi – some have boxes at the entry • Local Library – also Aerosol Cans, Mobile phones and chargers, Printer Cartridges & Light globes • Local shopping centres • Refuse/recycling centres
Technical Tips
Water Bath
A few years ago we bought a few “Sous Vide” on eBay. They sit in a tray and hold the temperature well, especially model SV228, which may no longer be available. We bought the size 14 one from the link below. https://metappaustralia.com.au/products.php?cat_id=7&subcat_id=65 I bought mine of Alixpress about 2 years ago, so much cheaper and…
Test Tubes – Robust
In May last year we bought rimmed test tubes 24mm diameter x 150mm long, Code 1H161 from Abacus Educational in Osborne Park. For the past few years I have bought through Perth Scientific, a rimless one that is Pyrex, Vista.
Safety Shower Sock
The cheapest I found was an Enware one from Benton’s plumbing supplies which cost me $150 posted to Perth. Other prices I found were mostly over $400. I made my own with a shower curtain and some elastic and use that with a normal bucket. It works really well. I have made a very primitive…
Kero in Test Tubes
Problems cleaning test tubes that have had kerosene in them and rubber stoppers. What are the alternatives for kerosene use for oil solubility practical with year 7s? We were thinking turps? Kerosene has now been replaced with baby oil in Y11 chemistry exp bonding and conductivity . We use baby oil to replace kerosene in…
Fingerprinting Suggestions
Normal stamp pads HB pencil scribbled on paper and rub finger on it Scenesafe Fingerprinting Powder together with Fingerprint Lifting Sheets (Cobex) ScieChem and Versamagic Midnight Black Chalk https://optimumtechnology.com.au/fingerpriny-taking/ Sticky tape on a glass slide Carbon powder dust on finger Supa glue, water and heat from a candle for Upper School
Earthquake Shaker Table
https://www/youtube.com/watch?v=ovjtEVbtPCo https://au01.z.antigena.com/l/gPjnor7m87z~BEKXmcoNlab_E2V3Gy3za8nEMJm93q-D2px7ehZUGOq6qWMPAFRCTP_FyH8KCcIfNkd6Lkj6McWfLV5bbJPt7vyyj6sSVlSROnVSYeNtvAS4KDeWn9O5QhOjC-OOD8oEK7gaUhfoOIn8QbCDLEm_8rYktOb7Jg8Ig-tEig8IYsUw71MJmnXJJxi5bi6 We just use 2 bench protectors with 4 ping pong balls sandwiched between them and 2 giant elastic bands around them. We then clamp the bottom protector to the bench. The students pull on and let go of the top bench protector to make it wobble. Also a few links if you’re after…
CRO old – Input Cable
Replies to request for input cable for an old CRO. Not sure if it has been answered but Jaycar has the BNC cables and connectors. I use the following all the time to connect input signals to our CROs: https://www.jaycar.com.au/bnc-male-to-double-binding-posts-banana-sockets/p/PA3666 Jaycar, Altronics, RS Components, should all have some oscilloscope probes or adapters. Examples from Jaycar…
Cloud Chamber
We got a kilo of dry ice pellets from BOQ in Welshpool and used a small aquarium with black felt from Spotlight, lining the bottom of the aquarium and Isopropyl alcohol (100%) to moisten the felt. You then tip the aquarium upside down on top of the lab tray containing polystyrene foam insulator, the dry…
Aluminium/Zinc
Old rhyming memory trick for telling whether cut pieces of silvery metal sheet are made of Aluminium or Zinc? “Aluminium is dull and grey, Zinc is shiny and bright all day. Drop them on the lab bench neat, Aluminium goes ‘tink,’ zinc goes ‘clink.’” Aluminium tends to be dull, while Zinc is shinier. When dropped,…