Comments on: Shopping List for Unit 3

By: Science Teacher

Science Teacher — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:29:52 +0000

Wow – I had no idea it was that expensive! Thanks for the tip. Try this:
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyeblog/C1134262190/E20110404071436/index.html or this: http://www.powersourcing.com/Australia/sodium-silicate.htm

By: Tessa Moore

Tessa Moore — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:29:14 +0000

We live in Australia – where do we find sodium silicate? It’s $113-$257 to ship from the USA!

By: Aurora

Aurora — Sun, 29 May 2011 16:58:15 +0000

Sure – you can purchase them anywhere you can find chemicals for sale. The trick is, most chemical retails will only sell to schools or businesses, and most of them are a much higher grade (quality) than we need for the experiments, and/or come in much larger quantities than required. I found the least expensive supplier and posted it here to the website. If you do find other sources to find these, please post them in the comment section so everyone can benefit!

By: Katherine Queitzsch

Katherine Queitzsch — Sat, 28 May 2011 23:53:50 +0000

Hi,

Can we only order the Avanced Crystals chemicals off the internet, or is it possible to find them in a store? If so, what store?

Thanks!

By: Aurora

Aurora — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:08:22 +0000

You can find it here at Amazon, Walmart, and some drug stores.

By: Aaron Smothers

Aaron Smothers — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:50:36 +0000

I’m having trouble finding bluing. Have looked in laundry sections at 2 grocery stores & Super Walmart. Any suggestions?

By: Aurora

Aurora — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:08:20 +0000

Hmmm… that’s a good question. You want to try any soap that floats, as it will have a higher concentration of air whipped into it. Let me know how it goes!

By: Fiona Mann

Fiona Mann — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:45:36 +0000

Hi, is ivory soap available in the UK, or is there a UK alternative?

By: Debra Thomson

Debra Thomson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:05:55 +0000

Thanks, Aurora!

By: Aurora

Aurora — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:15:23 +0000

Whoops – sorry about that. We moved things around here on the back end and thought we’d updated all the links, but it looks like we missed one. All fixed now – thanks!

By: Debra Thomson

Debra Thomson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:31:50 +0000

When I go to: Step 4. Do the Activities and Experiments in Unit 1:Mechanics, and I try to click on “experiments” (in ‘click here to zip over to the experiments’), it tells me that the page no longer exists. How can I get to the experiments?

By: Aurora

Aurora — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:26:59 +0000

Hi J… yes, you’re right for asking about it. Here’s the deal – you’ll produce chlorine, HCN, and other gases, which are lethal… and then you’ll miss your kid a LOT.

If you want to get more specific, the ingredients in chlorox are basically bleach and chlorine, both of which are nasty for anyone (kids especially!) to mess with. The chlorine in the bleach is highly reactive (this is why bleach works so well as a cleaner – the chlorine bonds with other substances cleaning your intended item). Brake fluid has a number of different chemicals in it (different proportions from different manufacturers), and at least one of these constituents will be reacting with the chlorine. Wait until they kit chemistry in college and then they can safely learn how to handle chlorine and other toxic gases safely.

We’ll be covering chemistry is much more detail later in the year, so if you can hold off until then, we’ll be having a lot of fun with it later.

You were in our Alaska workshop, right? You can make the crystal rocket we did then without losing a kid. Have fun!

By: jwilson

jwilson — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:47:41 +0000

Howdy howdy! Thanks loads for getting the whole kit-&-caboodle of materials lists on the site for us! I really appreciate being able to go out and just grab everything in one fell swoop…or two… j

Question: My son read in a local restaurant tabloid that mixing brake fluid with chlorox will produce lots of smoke.. Have you had the experience? Before we let him try it, will this kill him??? He’s anxious to try it.. but we kinda like him.. Also, what about Soda Ash and PineSol? thanks