Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Most important basic laboratory chemicals

Eosin Y - 8-5-2016 at 08:43

What would you say are the most important chemicals for starting a home lab? So far, I have experimented in my school Chemistry department under excellent supervision, but I need to get started with a lab at home, as I spend quite a lot of time at home (it is a British boarding school, and summer holidays are 10 weeks long.) Money is quite obviously tight for me: my parents' funding does not extend to that of my science hobby. I would say that I am decent: I know everything at a basic level, but I am by no means exceptional. My lab would have leanings towards organic chemistry, which I would like to learn more about, but energetic materials may also feature in some capacity.

JJay - 8-5-2016 at 11:42

Phenolphthalein, sulfuric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium bisulfate, hydrochloric acid, acetone....

It really depends on what you want to do. See this: https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=65...

Herr Haber - 8-5-2016 at 12:04

Well... It may sound silly, but if you are going to stock your lab with any kind of acid (you mentioned EM) then the first chemical I'd get would be baking soda.
Not just to neutralize your end product / waste acid, but also in case of a Spill.

The other chemical you might want to get is distilled water. Get two big jugs and if the clerk at your local store is cute you might even have a chance at a date if she believes you iron your clothes yourself.
Now, I know most people only have two arms but also get a jug of bleach.

This is for the chemicals that are quite versatile, cheap and easy to find.
For more specialized chemicals you have a fantastic supplier located in Manchester that sells on eBay and has his own website. I'll let you discover this one :)

j_sum1 - 8-5-2016 at 22:03

http://makezine.com/setting-up-a-home-science-lab3/

Also woelen's thoughts on equipment and chemicals
http://woelen.homescience.net/science/chem/misc/homelab.html
http://woelen.homescience.net/science/chem/exps/equipment.ht...
http://woelen.homescience.net/science/chem/misc/chemicals.ht...

The links might not work right away but if you start at woelen's home page you can navigate to what you need.




JJay. I checked out your YT channel. Looking forward to seeing some content. You do have a good basic set of channels you subscribe to though. :)

Eosin Y - 9-5-2016 at 02:43

Onyxmet also has a lot of what I am looking for (particularly exotic metal powders.)

Loptr - 9-5-2016 at 09:03

Onyxmet is a great source for chemicals. Ask them for special items and they can get them pretty cheaply for you, too.

Eosin Y - 9-5-2016 at 10:10

Do you know whether I am old enough for an EPP license? I am 14 and have been doing chemistry for a few years.

JJay - 9-5-2016 at 12:59

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1  
http://makezine.com/setting-up-a-home-science-lab3/

Also woelen's thoughts on equipment and chemicals
http://woelen.homescience.net/science/chem/misc/homelab.html
http://woelen.homescience.net/science/chem/exps/equipment.ht...
http://woelen.homescience.net/science/chem/misc/chemicals.ht...

The links might not work right away but if you start at woelen's home page you can navigate to what you need.




JJay. I checked out your YT channel. Looking forward to seeing some content. You do have a good basic set of channels you subscribe to though. :)


Thanks. I have started shooting videos but it's not quite as easy as it looks :) I'll probably have some up next week.

Eosin Y - 9-5-2016 at 13:38

Looking forward to them :D