Aurus
Harmless
Posts: 43
Registered: 31-12-2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: Oxidative
|
|
Which experiments do you propose I start with?
Hello,
I am starting a new home lab and I would like to hear suggestions about which experiments I should start with, in your opinion. I plan on starting
with inorganic chemistry, and slowly moving into organic chemistry, so I can explore the full breadth of accessible home chemistry and observe a great
variety of phenomena.
So, what do you suggest as starting experiments?
Let those who seek, find, and those who find, seek ever more
|
|
|
User
Hazard to Others
Posts: 339
Registered: 7-11-2008
Location: Earth
Member Is Offline
Mood: Passionate
|
|
Can I ask you what level of chemistry you are on?
If we dont know this than it is rather hard to give any nice suggestions.
Is there any particular field you are interested in ?
What a fine day for chemistry this is.
|
|
|
bahamuth
Hazard to Others
Posts: 384
Registered: 3-11-2009
Location: Norway
Member Is Offline
Mood: Under stimulated
|
|
You could buy a buret, (relative cheap on ebay) and start off with acid/base titration of the different acids and bases in your regular household.
Tip: Get yourself a decent balance with at least 2 decimals(e.g. 1.23gram)
|
|
|
entropy51
Gone, but not forgotten
Posts: 1612
Registered: 30-5-2009
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fissile
|
|
I think this oldie but goodie from the 1960's is one of the best lab manuals. College Chemistry in the Laboratory by Frantz and Malm. I used it extensively when I was high school age.
If you've never had a laboratory chemistry course, The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments might be worthwhile. You can find it by Googling.
And of course, Robert Thompson's Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments.
[Edited on 3-11-2009 by entropy51]
|
|
|
psychokinetic
National Hazard
Posts: 558
Registered: 30-8-2009
Location: Nouveau Sheepelande.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Constantly missing equilibrium
|
|
I'm absolutely loving that book, thanks entropy. Amazing to think what was taught in chemistry once-upon-a-time. I love the idea of teaching the
students to master their equipment before doing anything more 'serious' with it. No wonder we're a bunch of paranoid freaks these days, when kids
aren't being taught how to use things safely.
On the actual subject now, sorry - there's some good stuff in there, education wise and experiment wise. 
“If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once with the diligence of the bee to examine straw after straw until he found
the object of his search.
I was a sorry witness of such doings, knowing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety per cent of his labor.”
-Tesla
|
|
|
entropy51
Gone, but not forgotten
Posts: 1612
Registered: 30-5-2009
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fissile
|
|
| Quote: | | Amazing to think what was taught in chemistry once-upon-a-time |
I'm glad you like that book. I wish I knew all of the chemistry in it! Now that I probably have all the chemicals I hope to one day do the
experiments in it that I haven't done yet, or did so long that I've forgotten what happened.
|
|
|
Aurus
Harmless
Posts: 43
Registered: 31-12-2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: Oxidative
|
|
I have both books you are suggesting! The most difficult thing to find is a cheap balance that will ship to cyprus, where I live. The one suggested in
Thompson's book doesn't ship to Cyprus
Let those who seek, find, and those who find, seek ever more
|
|
|
psychokinetic
National Hazard
Posts: 558
Registered: 30-8-2009
Location: Nouveau Sheepelande.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Constantly missing equilibrium
|
|
I can understand your problem, I too live in an island country, but we seem to be big enough to provide this sort of stuff. Is it too expensive to get
things via the UK, Aurus?
“If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once with the diligence of the bee to examine straw after straw until he found
the object of his search.
I was a sorry witness of such doings, knowing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety per cent of his labor.”
-Tesla
|
|
|
Aurus
Harmless
Posts: 43
Registered: 31-12-2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: Oxidative
|
|
I am trying to find local suppliers, i met a pharmacist who will help me to find a cheap balance
Let those who seek, find, and those who find, seek ever more
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
