tantric - 28-4-2009 at 02:17
exactly as the title reads. as an art exhibit. no, it won't do anything but circulate colored fluids. any idea of where to start with this?
hissingnoise - 28-4-2009 at 02:45
Where Art and Science Collide---a fake set-up; why not the real thing?
hellfire23 - 28-4-2009 at 13:25
That reminds me of watching an old tv show, Man From Uncle it was called. They cut to a scene where the mad scientist has blue liquid running down
this huge ass grahm condenser, must have been 5 1/2 feet long.
You can make your own or buy some cheap glass off labx or ebay. For the fluids just use colored water.
kclo4 - 28-4-2009 at 15:53
That would look great if the law ever got involved especially with the average understanding of chemistry.
Get some I2, Br2, Cl2, and NO2 gases in a few flasks as well, that'll add a nice look to it.
Panache - 28-4-2009 at 17:12
If it is just temporary or for a one off display, set and prop hire companies rent all this stuff out. I once rented out a 'clandestine lab setup' to
a local production company here that made a cop drama (Blue Heelers) where the plot involved busting a excasty lab. The prop lady who dealt with me
was very stressed out as her producer really wanted a pill press working away in the corner of the room and she was sure they would be easy to come
by.
I remember they broke heaps of glass, which i was pleased with as i had given them old stuff but the deposit covered replacement cost.
Everything came back with water and food dye in it.
Magpie - 28-4-2009 at 17:47
Do you want this set-up to look realistic to chemists and non-chemists, or just to non-chemists? Whenever I see a hollywood setup using water colored
with red, yellow, and blue food coloring it always looks extremely fakey.
If you want it to look realistic, like in the movie about Paul Erlich, then you should get some advice from a chemist with real laboratory experience.
Edit: In re-reading your original post I see that you are just looking for an art exhibit and it would therefore not need to look realistic
to anyone.
[Edited on 29-4-2009 by Magpie]
[Edited on 29-4-2009 by Magpie]
hissingnoise - 29-4-2009 at 05:52
Some variant of the old "Fountain" experiment using NH3 and HCl from separate generators and Ph indicators could be aesthetically pleasing
and informative. . .
Solutions changing colour would interest kids, at least.
Magpie - 29-4-2009 at 06:56
For some performance art don't forget to occaisionally throw in come chunks of dry ice (solid CO2).
Also, consider use of a soxhlet extraction column. This would provide some action that would be pretty much on auto-pilot.
If you are looking for an alchemical atmosphere, some alembic retorts, a bellows driven charcoal fire, and a stuffed, or better yet live, crow would
be good.
[Edited on 29-4-2009 by Magpie]
bquirky - 29-4-2009 at 07:34
My pet parrot loves sitting on his perch in my shed when im messing about 
not
sure thats particualy 'Hollywood' though
kclo4 - 29-4-2009 at 18:51
If this happens, get some good pictures for us. 
bquirky - 1-5-2009 at 08:37
these are the birds in my shed its not much of a lab'y lab though
Magpie - 1-5-2009 at 15:42
It looks like you have two great lab assistants. The large one looks quite calm and just happy to be there. The small one looks intensely interested
in your work.
Retort
MadHatter - 2-5-2009 at 02:34
For nostalgic purposes, you have to show a retort sitting in an 3-leg iron ring above a burner
(preferably alcohol burner). And if your really want to go "frankenstein" on them, show a
Jacob's Ladder nearby !
[Edited on 2009/5/2 by MadHatter]
bquirky - 2-5-2009 at 03:00
yeah jacob's ladders are manditory prehaps an old style knife switch on the
wall too