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?User - 3-11-2009 at 10:25
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 ?bahamuth - 3-11-2009 at 10:27
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 - 3-11-2009 at 13:31
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 - 4-11-2009 at 12:24
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. entropy51 - 4-11-2009 at 13:30
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 - 12-11-2009 at 08:08
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 Cypruspsychokinetic - 12-11-2009 at 13:52
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?Aurus - 19-11-2009 at 08:52
I am trying to find local suppliers, i met a pharmacist who will help me to find a cheap balance
