caput_mortuum
Harmless
Posts: 13
Registered: 9-1-2019
Member Is Offline
|
|
new member introduction
Hi All,
Thought I should be civil and introduce myself. First off lets be clear: I am by no means a chemist - not hobby, amateur or pro. I never "got" the
theoretical side of chemistry at school (not because i wasnt interested, i was very interested, but they way they taught it didnt work for me), but i
loved the hands on part.
I've been collecting glassware for about 20 years, mostly sourced from op shops or second hand stores. in the late 90's - early 2000s it felt like
nearly everyone I walked into had at least a beaker or Erlenmeyer flask for me  I
loved how they looked and got a modest collection that became decorations in my home.
For the last couple of years I have been steam/hydro distilling herbs as a hobby to keep myself occupied and have bought more specialised glassware
like a soxhlet extractor and a clevenger to "level up".
I would love to get to the point where I am doing reactions like I have been reading on these forums (been coming here on and off for a couple of
years now) but learning the theory is a bit too much for me to take on right now, my workload and stress levels are far too high to retain that kind
of information! distilling seems to come naturally for me. So until life stops kicking me in the nuts i'll be distilling anything I can get my hands
on
I finally registered an account because I have questions about some new glass/tools I bought that I cannot find answers to via google. I'll ask them
in the appropriate forums
cheers from australia
- caput mortuum
|
|
|
Johnny Cappone
Hazard to Self
Posts: 74
Registered: 10-12-2020
Location: Brazil
Member Is Offline
|
|
Welcome!
I was also a lurker for quite a while. To be honest, almost a decade. I think that all long-term viewers end up registering someday. There are really
competent people here, I believe your doubts about glassware will be solved.
As for the study of theoretical chemistry, do it in your own time. Studying simple concepts and running small experiments to test them can be a good
way to make progress in learning. It's easier, faster, cheaper and (I think) efficient than trying to devour the whole theory at once.
|
|
|
j_sum1
Administrator
Posts: 6221
Registered: 4-10-2014
Location: Unmoved
Member Is Offline
Mood: Organised
|
|
Well, welcome. You will find a few aussies here. as well as some imports to Aus like me.
There are plenty of good introductory experiments that you can do that are not extremely demanding to perform and can be completed without having huge
knowledge. If you are already doing distillations then you can probably do a nice Fischer esterification. Methyl salicylate an be remarkably
satisfying. Ethyl salicyilate is much the same if you cannot get hold of methanol easily.
It sounds like you already have some adequate glass. But if you are working with glass tubes and rubber stoppers then I recommend shelling out for a
basic ground glass kit. Then see where that takes you.
Welcome to teh addiction.
|
|
|
B(a)P
International Hazard
Posts: 1114
Registered: 29-9-2019
Member Is Offline
Mood: Festive
|
|
Welcome to the forum from one Australian to another!
|
|
|
woelen
Super Administrator
Posts: 7977
Registered: 20-8-2005
Location: Netherlands
Member Is Offline
Mood: interested
|
|
Welcome to the forum! Good to see a long term lurker registering now!
If you use certain pieces of glassware for decorative purposes, then a whole new dimension may be added if you add some interesting and nice looking
compounds to the decoration. E.g. if you have a nice glass bulb, imagine the bulb being filled with a colored gas. Or if you have some weird flask,
imagine it being filled with nice crystals. Some decorative chemicals can be made, others you could buy. With the help of people on the forums you
certainly may be able to find nice decorative compounds in a safe way.
|
|
|
Lion850
National Hazard
Posts: 514
Registered: 7-10-2019
Location: Australia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Great
|
|
Good to see a fellow Aussie, welcome! A few of us here in QLD around Brisbane.
|
|
|
caput_mortuum
Harmless
Posts: 13
Registered: 9-1-2019
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1  | Well, welcome. You will find a few aussies here. as well as some imports to Aus like me.
There are plenty of good introductory experiments that you can do that are not extremely demanding to perform and can be completed without having huge
knowledge. If you are already doing distillations then you can probably do a nice Fischer esterification. Methyl salicylate an be remarkably
satisfying. Ethyl salicyilate is much the same if you cannot get hold of methanol easily.
It sounds like you already have some adequate glass. But if you are working with glass tubes and rubber stoppers then I recommend shelling out for a
basic ground glass kit. Then see where that takes you.
Welcome to teh addiction. |
oh i am an import as well but i've been here since i was 3 or 4 so for all
intents and purposes i am an aussie
thanks for the advice. I looked up Methyl salicylate and found multiple synths, it does look like a good intro and if i can read the wiki on
Fischer–Speier esterification and understand what all the terms on that page mean then I'll be happy
|
|
|
caput_mortuum
Harmless
Posts: 13
Registered: 9-1-2019
Member Is Offline
|
|
forum software didnt let me post any more quote replies, lets see if this one gets through...
thanks for a warm welcome
|
|
|
j_sum1
|
Thread Split
1-5-2023 at 03:02 |
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
