Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Cool gift for a Chemistry Professor?

confusedpizza - 5-4-2014 at 20:23

Hi guys,

I want to make something cool for my college chemistry professor (inorganic chemist, gen chem class). Last semester I figured out electrochemistry and made a key chain (using electroetching/plating). He thought it was really cool, particularly since we hadn't covered that specifically in class, and I would like to do something similar again - any ideas? I'm hoping you guys can help. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.


-CP

Zephyr - 5-4-2014 at 21:24

I once made a copper and a zinc periodic table using a plaster of Paris mold.
They were about 5 inches long and 2.5 inches tall.
Keeping with the inorganic theme, a small metal model of a atom, periodic table or of a molecule might make a nice gift for your chemistry professor.

[Edited on 6-4-2014 by Pinkhippo11]

thesmug - 5-4-2014 at 21:30

For an even better gift combine the above suggestions with some (well done) anodizing!

forgottenpassword - 6-4-2014 at 04:25

Perhaps something like this?:
http://www.drinkstuff.com/productimg/22783_large.jpg

confusedpizza - 6-4-2014 at 08:27

These are some really cool ideas! I have to admit I don't understand this one:
Quote: Originally posted by forgottenpassword  
Perhaps something like this?:
http://www.drinkstuff.com/productimg/22783_large.jpg


I had an idea last night, he doesn't have a clock in his office and I'm always hassling him about it. What cool things could I do with/to a clock? I was thinking maybe glow in the dark? But anything I could do with glow in the dark wouldn't last long, right?

thesmug - 6-4-2014 at 10:12

Tritium, if you can get any, lasts a while as far as I know.

forgottenpassword - 6-4-2014 at 13:54

Quote: Originally posted by confusedpizza  
I have to admit I don't understand this one:

Quote: Originally posted by forgottenpassword  
Perhaps something like this?:
http://www.drinkstuff.com/productimg/22783_large.jpg

It's a brown nose. ;)

DubaiAmateurRocketry - 6-4-2014 at 14:32

Where do you buy a piece of material with the periodic table carved into it? Or a shirt, tie, hat, anything with periodic table?

PiledhigherandDeeper - 7-4-2014 at 04:49

Quote: Originally posted by confusedpizza  
Hi guys,

I want to make something cool for my college chemistry professor (inorganic chemist, gen chem class). Last semester I figured out electrochemistry and made a key chain (using electroetching/plating). He thought it was really cool, particularly since we hadn't covered that specifically in class, and I would like to do something similar again - any ideas? I'm hoping you guys can help. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.


-CP


IMO (I am a prof), keep it simple... if you can part with it, give him the keychain that you made or make another, and tell him thanks for the learning experience. Something like that would have a lot of meaning to me. Even, just a heartfelt "thank you" goes a long way.

I'll probably sound like the fun police / an ass... gifts can be dicey from an honor code standpoint (it's a stretch, but...) and really, most of us have enough crap in our offices.

And money saved, is money for beer.

Metallus - 8-4-2014 at 11:05

A distillation kit for grape :D

confusedpizza - 10-4-2014 at 04:14

Thanks guys - those are all super cool!