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Author: Subject: A project everyone can pitch in on! Writing the book on chemistry.
Chemguy
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[*] posted on 28-9-2006 at 03:48


Awesome book, can I add something. One about pure chemicals in the house, if so should I email it to you?



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Intergalactic_Captain
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[*] posted on 25-6-2007 at 22:40


Not to be an ass, but just some drunken ramblings...

I do appreciate the effort put forth by everyone who has already/is currenly/is planning to contribute to the book. I would contribute something myself, but as I have not fully read what's gone on so far I'm not sure if I have anything that hasn't already been covered...Also, I apologize for digging up an old post...But then again, this is a sticky, so I guess all is fair...

One thing that should definitely be addressed is the language of the book. Yes, everyting that has been written has come from the mouths of amateurs - Note, I do not mean "amateurs" as in your level of competence...One thing I have seen on this board from my time here is that the vast majority of contributors have an incredible level of competence in the chemical arts. What is lacking in the book, though, is a clear grammatical discipline. Props to BromicAcid to doing what he did, but before this is "released" I propose the work is proofread and rewritten in a more professional manner. No offense to anyone whose words were transcribed, but the chemical community of the future could greatly benefit from a more "legitimate" text.


Once again, I mean no offense to the competence of anyone who contributed to the project...I simply wish that such an important publication "felt" more "professional." BromicAcid, U2U me if you'd like any help with editing...Along with anyone else - If this project is going to go anywhere, it might as well go somewhere.




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tito-o-mac
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[*] posted on 6-7-2007 at 06:33


"Most Importantly!

By reading further you agree not to hold the authors of this document responsible for any injuries/fatalities that may occur from attempting to make any of the products or following any of the procedures that are outlined within. Chemistry inherently possesses a degree of danger and you must understand this, wear gloves and more if the situation calls for it, your safety is in your own hands, not mine!"

Remember to check out the safety issues first before doing anything...
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BromicAcid
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[*] posted on 6-7-2007 at 16:00


Intergalactic_Captain, don't worry about seeming like an ass. About 3/4 of what I have written is rough draft - off the top of my head material just to get the ideas down to form around. And although I believe myself to have the capacity to efficiently edit the work once it is complete, I have mentioned in this thread before, particularly to people offering their editing services, that they are encouraged to help with the editing once it is complete. Completion being the main goal in my mind.

More importantly though, people should be outright complaining by now about my lack of updates. Not sure if I mentioned it before but after my last computer crashed and I lost my copy of MS Office Word and I have been reluctant to work on the book since it shows up strange (at least the original patent work-in-progress copy does). So I didn't want to mess things up so I haven't done much. Well, that's a lie, I have written a lot but none of it is anywhere significant, furthermore, I live in an apartment now so I really can't get the interesting pictures that I would like to accompany the text.

Now that I have MS Word again and can work on the book, I have been trying to really sit down and get things written after such a long hiatus. Then, finally after I get everything roughed out, I would be very very very happy for some other people to take over the editing. I mean, I can compile and such but just reading and re-reading all the stuff I'd written might be enough to induce some sort of multiple personality disorder.

Again, sorry for the lack of updates but as always, everyone is more than welcome to contribute (both pictures and written works), albeit with the quantifier that they recognize their work may be altered so as to better fit within the work. So some parts might be expounded on, re-written, or removed, but you will always receive your credit at the end.

Again, I am sorry! :(




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Nerro
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[*] posted on 28-6-2008 at 13:30


BUMP!

Wouldn't it be cool to finish this?




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the \"bishop\" came to our church today
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mattrod9523
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[*] posted on 10-10-2008 at 17:01


Well, I've always wanted to write a book on chemistry, but just couldn't get it right individually. Then again, I've never been in touch with such great chemistry enthusiasts. I look forward to it. I will send you images and writings directly to your email adress. ;)
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mattrod9523
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[*] posted on 10-10-2008 at 17:11
Organization


Before we begin, we will have to decide on which way we will organize the book; by experiments, by chapters, sections, and so on. Just decide on what you all want and I can do the computer work, which is practically what I do for a living, inserting the images and organizing the text. But, we all need to agree on what we write at every point. By the way, everyone should also do a little computer work, as well. However, the book won't be more than 30 pages long if we just put down stuff that you can do in a kitchen.
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harrydrez
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[*] posted on 6-12-2008 at 13:58


I'm just curious, any plans to finish this?
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BromicAcid
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[*] posted on 6-12-2008 at 20:24


I'm not saying it's not going to happen but the odds are steadily slipping. This is due to a number of factors.

First off, I've gotten lots of promises for contributions since my last update but no one has stepped up and submitted anything.

Secondly the individuals who offered their advice and feedback on sections have remained silent. The only area I have an abundance of offers for help is editing and currently the work is in such a state the editing would be an excersise in futility.

And third I am finding it more difficult to picture the target audience. As my experience in the lab continues to grow I think I am loosing touch with my at home experimentation side. Part of that is also due in part to the changing climate of this board, I see some experimenters taking things further than I had ever anticipated in the home setting but for the most part I've seen a regression in the dedication and motives of the people posting to this forum and that alone is dissuading.

Submissions are still accepted I have never stopped taking them except from some individuals that blanatly plagarized material or some people who missed the theme of the book (I don't need to include methods of preparation of acetone peroxide). If there was someone else out there with the modivation to work on this I would work with them to transfer the reins of power. Simple as that. Currently it is edited in MS Word and turned into a PDF with CutePDF writer so there is no real need for advanced prorgrams.

If I get to writing more, I do. If I don't, I don't. And unless someone else puts an effort forth I am sorry to say that is the way things are going at the moment, and it's been such a long time since I worked on it that I've lost most of my modivation to pick it up again.

[Edited on 12/6/2008 by BromicAcid]




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harrydrez
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[*] posted on 6-12-2008 at 20:57


Oh I was just curious, I understand. I thought you guys were doing a pretty good job there, not trying to bust your balls or anything.
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Nerro
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[*] posted on 7-12-2008 at 06:35


I'll pitch in, give me the word on what you need and I'll get on it.



#261501 +(11351)- [X]

the \"bishop\" came to our church today
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never once moved diagonally

courtesy of bash
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BromicAcid
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[*] posted on 7-12-2008 at 11:01


Nerro, here is the page that gives the status of each section. It's all at the bottom of the page and is color coded.

http://www.bromicacid.com/bookprogress.htm

Anything in Red is what would need to be completed the most. But most everything needs some work. But if you want to start something from scratch go for the red.

And harrydrez, I didn't mean to come off as defensive. It's just that I hadn't posted to this topic in awhile and I took it as an open opprotunity to give everyone and update on where things stand and such.




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Alexein
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[*] posted on 9-12-2008 at 23:26


Maybe convert the book to a Wiki-like website?

Assloads of "free wiki" servers out there... some better than others....

The wiki concept is useful in that it allows members of the board to freely update and improve the articles as time progresses and reduces workload on you.

Might also be convenient way to put in the publications this board produces from time to time.
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Lambda-Eyde
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[*] posted on 12-3-2009 at 14:32


Pssst. The "Inert Atmospheres" section says that freon is a flammable gas. Isn't it weird for a gas used as a fire extinguisher to be flammable? ;)

Give me two weeks and I can get you the "thermometer picture".
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Sedit
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[*] posted on 12-3-2009 at 15:05


Very nice work there Bromic granted yeh its not finished and still a little rough but to me it looks to have great potential.
Every consider a getto section to teach those how to make many things in there homes such as magnetic stirers, improvised seperation funnels , simple homemade distillation setup ect..? Just a thought, Now Finish it already:P





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asilentbob
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[*] posted on 2-12-2009 at 13:01


http://disc.420chan.org/chem/res/30091.shtml
This thread has many reaction roadmaps, some periodic tables, etc that could be good material to add to "the book."

Yes 420chan and its /chem/ board are pretty immature, but sometimes genuinely good threads pop up. So add to the thread if you can, or save and add to the book if you think it could benefit from some of these.

[Edited on 12/2/2009 by asilentbob]




So many ideas... too few dealing with chemistry.
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[*] posted on 2-12-2009 at 13:08


Thank you for the link! - they look very interesting browsing.
Best wishes.
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peach
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[*] posted on 27-7-2010 at 05:06


My main concern is that we'll write it and it'll essentially be a poorer version of the huge number of guides already available from bookshops. It has to fulfill something they don't. Which will almost certainly be that it is geared towards knowing the reader is guaranteed to be working at home and that they likely don't have a lot of money to spend on catalogue purchases.

It might be an idea to edit it as a wiki, with access only given to people posting in the thread to limit the scrambling effect of randomly inserted sentences that is sometimes seen on Wikipedia; along with redundant copypasta. That would accelerate the rate of corrections, improvements and such.

One of us should be in charge of our sections and they can then supervise the revisions and additions to check it's going together okay, but in a quicker format than emailing them between ourselves. The wiki format keeps an edit history and allows rolls backs as well.

Something I don't like is the page layout and colouring, sorries! It looks too jumbled and amateur. I'd condense it all into one PDF book. Using Wikipedia, I can click 'create book' and then 'add to book' as I find things of interest. The resulting list can be titled and ordered by the reader, compiled to a PDF and downloaded or sent to their printer, who'll bind it into a physical copy and post it out.

I'll read it soon and see how I can help. This is precisely what I was thinking of doing.

[Edited on 27-7-2010 by peach]




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[*] posted on 5-7-2011 at 10:29


I am trying to work on Chapter 5 of the book, but ran into a problem and RVincent is too busy to answer. Under "Chemical Reactions", there are experiments, but there are no experiments under "Chemical Experiments". Is there a reason for this?



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White Yeti
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[*] posted on 6-9-2011 at 11:59


I think the reason why people lack interest in this project is that there is so much to do. It's almost like you were trying to fill up a lake with a spoon and a dripping tap. I think this is still a very good project, but you should narrow it down. There are things you can find in every chemistry encyclopaedia and you don't need to repeat them.

Just a thought.
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[*] posted on 3-5-2012 at 06:51


Well, I am reviving this thread. This project is rather important and I cannot sit here and let it just fade away with time. Bromic, I will be contacting you shortly about possibly taking this project over. Something about this excites me beyond all belief. I want to finish what you started, or at least run with it for a couple years and pass on the torch to another brave soul.

I also want to know if anyone else feels like this is something worth re-undertaking. I can see more than ever, reading through this thread, that this is impossible for one person to handle on their own.

U2U me with what you think or just post here!




The Home Chemist Book web page and PDF. Help if you want to make Home Chemist history! http://www.bromicacid.com/bookprogress.htm
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[*] posted on 5-5-2012 at 10:01


Alright Science Madness, I have officially undertaken the project and have some requests. The book is quite old right now and the photos are such quite dated (remember the good ol' days when 2.5 megapixels was big?). As such, I am specifically looking for updated glassware pictures, preferably with a black background and with high resolution. Also, if anyone is willing to help and write some sections (You will be famous!), check out BromicAcid's website for what still needs to be done:

http://www.bromicacid.com/bookprogress.htm

Currently, I am reading through the whole thing to get a feel for the text and the style with which Bromic has already established. If you have additions or comments, please feel free to U2U me and I will supply you with my email address.

Also, any pictures you guys have (free of copyright of course) would be fantastic.

Looking forward to advancing this project, stay tuned for more developments in the future!




The Home Chemist Book web page and PDF. Help if you want to make Home Chemist history! http://www.bromicacid.com/bookprogress.htm
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Bezaleel
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[*] posted on 13-5-2013 at 02:14


Great to see somebody pick this up. I saw this thread a few weeks ago, and felt sorry it seemed to have slowly bleeded to death.

I can produce pictures of glassware, but only 1280X960. In my opinion this really is enough for creating a book.
My experience is that pictures of glass on a black background are not necessarily the clearest. How well the shape of glass objects can be recognised from a picture, strongly depends on lighting conditions, and to a lesser extent to the reflection of other objects in the glassware.

I think that the best strategy to drive this to completion, will be to make a breakdown per section of the book of what needs completion, clarification, or is missing entirely. If you put the breakdown here in this thread, other mad scientists may jump in to write a chapter of the book.
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[*] posted on 21-6-2013 at 18:19


I haven't read any of this thread, but I did see the following:
<a href="http://www.bromicacid.com/bookprogress.htm" target="_blank">
Quote:
Picture Needs (all pictures need to be free from copyright concerns, either take them yourself or find something that specifically says that it can be copied and distributed):

Periodic table with element names written on it as well as symbols, current one just has symbols, must be legible at comparable size.
</a>
Use the <a href="http://old.iupac.org/reports/periodic_table/IUPAC_Periodic_Table-1Jun12.pdf" target="_blank">IUPAC table</a> <img src="../scipics/_pdf.png" /> and leave their copyright information on it. I'm sure they won't mind.

[Edited on 7/10/13 by bfesser]




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sargent1015
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[*] posted on 22-6-2013 at 22:42


I know I have staggered in my work on this project, but I am still plugging away in my free time. My senior thesis kind of blocks my writing juices. However, if anyone wants to help edit/revamp/rewrite sections, that would be lovely!



The Home Chemist Book web page and PDF. Help if you want to make Home Chemist history! http://www.bromicacid.com/bookprogress.htm
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