Q&A
Microorganisms suitable for use in school science
What types of microorganisms are suitable for use in Australian school science laboratories? Are special laboratory facilities required to handle these microorganisms?
VIEW QUESTIONTarantula kept in classroom
Is it perfectly okay to keep a tarantula in a locked container in the classroom?
VIEW QUESTIONPrecipitation reaction (sodium hydroxide and barium nitrate)
I wonder if you can help me out with another confusing chemical reaction we have observed in our lab. When sodium hydroxide was added to barium nitrate we expected a…
VIEW QUESTIONCombustion reaction
Is there any danger in getting students to burn steel wool in the school laboratory? I'm thinking of Year 10 students. I can think of one problem... What surface should…
VIEW QUESTIONAmmonium Nitrate
Hi. Wondering if anyone uses ammonium nitrate for senior chemistry? Have a teacher who has requested some ammonium nitrate for making rockets? Not sure if it is a banned substance…
VIEW QUESTIONBasic calorimeter activities
I'm looking for an easy Calorimeter experiment for heat capacity for Year 11 Physics students. Can you suggest some, please?
VIEW QUESTIONBlood Typing – Use of Animal Blood
Hi, I know that if we use human blood for blood typing it has to be screened. A teacher attended a PD session and they used blood from the bottom…
VIEW QUESTIONElectrophoresis Dyes
Hi, We have recently purchased our own equipment for doing electrophoresis and would like to know what the best dyes to use are and their preparation please?
VIEW QUESTIONChemicals in schools (formaldehyde, melamine and cyanuric acid)
Can someone please tell me if we can use formaldehyde (37%), melamine or cyanuric acid for IB individual design experiments in schools in Victoria? Thanks.
VIEW QUESTIONAntimicrobial Sensitivity Testing
Are schools allowed to conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing of a microorganism using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method? What antimicrobials are allowed for use in schools? Are antibiotics permissible?
VIEW QUESTIONCyclohexene in dropper bottles
Standard rubber teats on dropper bottles are not compatible with cyclohexene. Anyone know of a dropper-bottle type that would be compatible with cyclohexene?
VIEW QUESTIONLaboratory signage for microbiology
Is it mandatory for school science laboratories to have a biological hazard sign on laboratory doors and equipment such as incubators and fridges where microorganisms are being used, incubated and…
VIEW QUESTIONMosquito larvae
I’m putting together some activities for Year 2 students and was wondering if we are still able to use mosquito larvae in the classroom? I am hoping to demonstrate how…
VIEW QUESTIONBunsen burners
What are the gas tubing and other connection specifications, including material and length, for Bunsen burners used in a school setting? Furthermore, can old LPG Bunsen burners be converted to…
VIEW QUESTIONStorage of nitrates
Hi, I'm upgrading the storage of my chemicals. Is it okay to store nitrates in clear glass bottles?
VIEW QUESTIONPVA Slime
There was a directive that came out from Education Queensland to all HODs in 2004/2005 regarding students not being permitted to take any slime made at school home. I no…
VIEW QUESTIONBonding and conductivity
Our Year 11s had an electrical conductivity practical demonstrated to them, and the molten silver nitrate did not register a charge on the ammeter. The sodium hydroxide did this beautifully.…
VIEW QUESTIONVan de Graaff generator and electronic medical devices
The Science ASSIST Standard Operating Procedure for demonstrating the Van de Graaff generator has in its safety notes to ensure that anyone who has an electronic insulin pump should not…
VIEW QUESTIONRusting of steel wool using vinegar
We are doing the rusting of steel wool with vinegar experiment with our Year 8 students. There are various versions of this experiment on the net, this is one example:…
VIEW QUESTIONStorage and disposal of deliquescent chemicals
Storage and disposal of deliquescent chemicals - Zinc Nitrate: Hi, My bottle of zinc nitrate has liquid in it and the bottle has expanded. It does not look right.
VIEW QUESTIONDisposal of calcium oxide
Calcium oxide disposal: Hi. Can anyone tell me how to dispose of some very old calcium oxide. The container is all swollen and the date on the bottle is Dec…
VIEW QUESTIONLitmus Paper
The Litmus paper in our lab is many years old, but has been kept dry in a dark drawer. We have a significant prac in June to prepare for and…
VIEW QUESTIONDisposal of old equipment
We have cupboards full of old school science laboratory equipment including: balances, models, etc. Most of the equipment hasn't been touched in over 10 years. Is there somewhere that could…
VIEW QUESTIONSafe storage of chemicals
I would just like to ask what chemicals can be stored safely together. In a chemical storeroom, as in which classes can be put together. Thank you.
VIEW QUESTIONWildlife camera
Wildlife Camera in School: We are considering using a wildlife camera that senses movement and then records a few minutes of video footage. It would be placed in a treed…
VIEW QUESTIONFlame testing
What would be considered safer for Year 8 students attempting flame testing of chemicals? Using a small quantity of solid chemical in a flame on a metal loop, or a…
VIEW QUESTIONChemical storage and labelling
We are sorting through our toxic chemicals ADG class 6 and are not sure how we should now label and store them according to the GHS. For example, lead acetate…
VIEW QUESTIONReaction between iron and sulfur
When we conduct the reaction between Fe and S, it seems to create SO2, which is toxic, and sometimes I smell H2S. Are we allowed to carry out this reaction…
VIEW QUESTIONHuman skeletons
This question combines two previously asked questions regarding human skeletons. Q1: We have been offered a human skeleton that has, up until now, been used for medical purposes. Are there…
VIEW QUESTIONIndicator for testing for water hardness
Hi , We need some assistance in preparing Eriochrome Black (Mordant Black) indicator for an EEI testing water hardness. We have in the past prepared this stain using 0.2g of…
VIEW QUESTIONMeasuring corrosion of iron—Yr 12 EEI
Hi I'd like to get ideas/techniques on how students can measure the amount of rust produced when a nail (iron) corrodes. In the past years, students have weighed the nails…
VIEW QUESTIONChemical User Codes
Can you tell me how I can access the most up-to-date version of the Chemical Safety in Schools (CSIS) Manual? I have noticed that some of your user codes are…
VIEW QUESTIONOnline booking programs?
Can you recommend 2 or 3 commercial, online booking programs for me to review. They are for the booking of science practical activities by teachers (for lab techs) within a…
VIEW QUESTIONChemical Storage (manganese dioxide)
Hi, just wanting some clarification on the storage of manganese dioxide, please. The previous SDS from Chem-Supply has manganese dioxide as DG Class 5.1, the new one (Jan 2016) says…
VIEW QUESTIONDecomposition of organic matter
Isolating fungi and bacteria from grass cuttings: We are a school in tropical north Queensland. Can we conduct an experiment that requires wiping grass cuttings onto agar plates to look…
VIEW QUESTIONPreparation of Equipment for Dissections
s it now a requirement that all dissection equipment be disinfected BEFORE being dispensed to a class? I usually put all items through the dishwasher after dissections and they come…
VIEW QUESTIONBromine Water
I have been asked to make up bromine water for testing its reaction with hydrocarbons. I know that this is very toxic and requires an S7 Poisons Permit. Would the…
VIEW QUESTIONPlankton and preserving specimens of plankton
We catch live plankton weekly and would like to preserve the specimens. We would like to collect a long term sequence we can use as a data set.
VIEW QUESTIONDrying of anhydrous sodium carbonate
I am about to standardise a sodium hydroxide solution, but I have been wondering about the recommended temperature and time for drying anhydrous sodium carbonate as the first step in…
VIEW QUESTIONChemistry Experiment using reflux and distillation
Is there an organic practical that uses two of reflux, distillation and liquid-liquid extraction that does not require a fume hood? The most common practical is esterification, but as I…
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