Q&A
Dissection materials
Sourcing dissection materials: I am a laboratory technician in regional NSW. Could you please advise me on the following or provide me with a person who may be able to…
VIEW QUESTIONSupply of boiling beads or chips
Just wondering if you know from where I can purchase some boiling beads or chips - as opposed to Marble Chips which are unstable when heated and thus unsuitable for…
VIEW QUESTIONSafety Shower Requirements
Where can I find the regulations for safety showers, please?
VIEW QUESTIONAerosol storage
Q1 Where can I find the standards and requirements for safe aerosol storage in the lab prep area? Q2 I have joined my schools OSH team and we have aerosols…
VIEW QUESTIONGas Cylinders
Storage of Gas Cylinders: We currently have three gas cylinders - Hydrogen - DG 2.1 (size E), Oxygen - DG 2.2 & 5.1 (size D) and Carbon Dioxide - DG…
VIEW QUESTIONSulfuric Acid in Corrosives Cabinet
A lid was left off 6M sulphuric acid in the corrosive cabinet for some time last year. It reacted with the air and the cabinet started to rust. I am…
VIEW QUESTIONScience suppliers for polymer slime powder and ochre
I was wondering if you could help with sourcing some specific items for science. Our science curriculum manager is trying to purchase the following: 1. Polymer slime powder—this used to…
VIEW QUESTIONScience Facilities
Where can I find policies, national standards etc. to clarify what the Australian Standards are for science rooms in schools?
VIEW QUESTIONLab equipment database
Hi, I’m looking for a system to inventory all of our equipment. Ideally it would also allow us to store commonly ordered practical activities so that they can be retrieved…
VIEW QUESTIONChemical Storage Cabinets
Can you please provide information on chemical storage cabinets suitable for storage of corrosive substances, including concentrated nitric, sulfuric and hydrochloric acids.
VIEW QUESTIONPPE – using gloves with 0.5M sodium hydroxide
The SDS for 0.5M NaOH advises us to use gloves with the students in grade 7/8. We have always used goggles and aprons but have not been in the practice…
VIEW QUESTIONEating in Science labs and Classrooms
We have received a few questions on this topic 1. Is there any documentation to support not eating in a science laboratory? And how do you suggest that this is…
VIEW QUESTIONSupply of porous pots
Does anybody still do the ‘porous pot’ activity? It involves a plaster of Paris pot, with a rubber stopper and glass tube, held upside down. The glass tube sits in…
VIEW QUESTIONLaser classification
We have not been using our old laser because it was a Class 3B, and therefore banned in secondary schools under the older code of practice. Now, in the ARPANSA…
VIEW QUESTIONChemical Storage Timeframes
I was wondering if there are any guidelines that relate to how long chemicals can be stored in a secondary school prep lab before they go 'bad' - essentially a…
VIEW QUESTIONAluminium powder
I have just purchased some Aluminium powder and the MSDS from the supplier ( Chem supply ) states Non Hazardous and Non dangerous goods. Other information from the Regional Technicians…
VIEW QUESTIONPotassium dichromate and sodium dichromate
We have combined four questions to be answered here Determination of alcohol content in wine: A prac for this has been suggested for our Year 12 chemistry students. The prac…
VIEW QUESTIONWaste chemical disposal
We are in western Sydney and are looking for an economical way of disposing of both solution and solid chemical waste and surplus chemicals .
VIEW QUESTIONBurning Magnesium Ribbon
Are students allowed to burn magnesium ribbon in a Bunsen burner flame using tongs as a class activity or should it just be a teacher demo? I know that people…
VIEW QUESTIONGallium Metal
Hi, I was wondering what your thoughts were on the use of gallium in schools (Years 7–12) for the purpose of demonstrating the melting point of metals and possibly other…
VIEW QUESTIONPhotocopier / printer stored outside chemical store room
Hi I have just come back off holidays to find a large photocopying machine placed opposite the door to my Chemical Store room—within a metre. This photocopier / printer is…
VIEW QUESTIONElectrical Services in School Labs
Electrical standards for classroom laboratories: Can you tell me the current standard for school laboratories with regard to electrical cut-off switches. Should there be an emergency electrical shut down push…
VIEW QUESTIONUsing Burettes
Could you provide information for washing burettes correctly. I find students have no idea.
VIEW QUESTIONSupply of large calcium carbonate marble chips
I have been asked to purchase large calcium carbonate marble chips, as the chem supply ones are the wrong size. any suggestions? P.S. The teacher would like to heat them.
VIEW QUESTIONPlant ecology – oxygen-producing plants
What aquatic plants are legal to use for photosynthesis experiments in Australia, in particular Western Australia? Good oxygen producing plants are Ceratophyllum demersum (fox tail, a hornwort), Elodea canadensis (Elodea)…
VIEW QUESTIONSharps container disposal
Hi. I just want to know where we should dispose our full sharps container. Do we just have to secure the lid and make sure it's tight and sealed and…
VIEW QUESTIONSulfur Hexafluoride
I require information on availability, safety, cost and suppliers of sulfur hexafluride. I would also appreciate advice from anyone with experience in using and disposal of the gas. Thank you.
VIEW QUESTIONMaking Nylon
It has now been 14 years since I was in a high school classroom, but in those ‘good old days’ we could do an experiment to make nylon 6,6. I…
VIEW QUESTIONMercury Spills
We have a small amount of mercury in a thick-walled test tube, which only comes out once a year and is handled by the teacher. I do not have a…
VIEW QUESTIONChemical Storage
What type of extractor fan should we have to ventilate our chemical storage cupboard? My understanding is that we have an Industrial Extractor fan, but should we have a Chemical…
VIEW QUESTIONNumber of exit doors in labs and prep rooms
How many exit doors must a lab and a prep room have? Should they be on opposite sides of the lab? Are sliding doors allowed? Should the doors open outwards?…
VIEW QUESTIONDissecting cane toads in WA
Could you please advise on the status of importing cane toads into WA as preserved specimens. There has been a recommendation recently for Lab Techs to dissect cane toads imported…
VIEW QUESTIONHomeostasis – Osmoregulation
I am looking for an interesting and unique experiment relating to osmoregulation/salt-water balance. Do you have some recommendations?
VIEW QUESTIONSulfur disposal
Could you please advise on the procedure for disposing of sulfur, specifically sulfur mixed with iron filings and HCl.
VIEW QUESTIONCleaning glassware
Dichromic acid glass cleaner waste - I use concentrated sulfuric acid and sodium dichromate in the glass cleaner I make. I have recently learned that sulfuric acid should not be…
VIEW QUESTIONOrganic chemistry
Could someone please advise about the safe storage and disposal of esters. I haven't been able to find Australian references. One USA site said esters with a carbon-chain length of…
VIEW QUESTIONAustralian Landforms
My Geography HOD asked me if I could access/buy any resources/texts on Australian landforms. I'm not having much luck and wondered if anyone could steer me in the right direction.…
VIEW QUESTIONMaking Sherbet
Can you tell me if any safety precautions are required for the sherbet activity, which allows students to create an acid–base reaction in their mouth? Is the recipe below okay…
VIEW QUESTIONReflux and distillation
How should solutions be heated when using quickfit apparatus to perform reflux or distillation? Are Bunsen burners still allowed? We do not have any heating mantles.
VIEW QUESTIONDisposal of organic waste
Organic waste: Students are investigating the reactions and properties of organic compounds from Heinemann Chemistry 2 VCE units 3 & 4. The waste will be minimal but we have no…
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