weeksie98
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Opinions? What is best to acquire first for a home lab?
This will help both me and other new home chemists. I have already asked a few people, including Hexavalent, and they say it is best to acquire
inorganic glassware for your first lab. What do you think? I was originally of the opinion that a distillation set-up was the best bet to start, but,
upon reflection, getting the basic glass or even getting a solid array of different bits heating equipment also seem like great options. All opinions
welcome!
'If organic chemistry were easy, it would be known as "biology".'
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TheChemiKid
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I think you should definitely get a hotplate and some beakers and flasks. If you have the money, buy a distillation apparatus.
When the police come
\( * O * )/ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿'̿'̵͇̿̿з=༼ ▀̿̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿ ̿ ༽
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weeksie98
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Quote: Originally posted by TheChemiKid  | | I think you should definitely get a hotplate and some beakers and flasks. If you have the money, buy a distillation apparatus. |
Interesting, that would fit in with my opinion.
'If organic chemistry were easy, it would be known as "biology".'
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woelen
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The most basic things are test tubes and a small burner to heat them. Do you have these already? If so, then think of basic glassware, but if not,
then first grab a set of test tubes.
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Mailinmypocket
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In addition to the above mentioned,get lots of empty bottles for liquids and solids, try and find a few with Teflon liners for harsher chemicals for
if(when) you make some bromine and nitric acid.
Stands, various clamps,wire mesh squares, a burner (Mekker or Tirrill are my favorites), filter papers and if you can a Büchner funnel and filter
flask with a vacuum adapter for your tap. You will be happy you got the last item. I went for so long without a vac filter setup and I have no idea
why/how. A scale is also a necessity, get some cupcake paper things too, they make nice disposable weighing vessels 
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mayko
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Goggles!
A periodic table, calculator, pen, and notebook.
After that, it really depends upon the science you intend to do. It sounds like you are interested in chemistry, so I would begin by collecting jars
and household, easy-to-acquire chemicals (white vinegar, ammonia, bleach, salt, sugar...) Are you interested more in organic, inorganic, both?
Measurement is a key function of a lab, so get your instruments together: ruler, stopwatch, magnifying glass, thermometer, pH paper, scale...
Take a good look around the house, the grocery store, the hardware store, etc. If you're just starting off, there may not be a need to get fancy;
coffee filters make perfectly functional filter papers.
People often forget about cleaning and waste disposal, so be sure to stock up on towels, and garbage bags, and develop an organized waste system from
the start.
al-khemie is not a terrorist organization
"Chemicals, chemicals... I need chemicals!" - George Hayduke
"Wubbalubba dub-dub!" - Rick Sanchez
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bismuthate
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Visit woelens sit. http://woelen.homescience.net/science/index.html
I would recomend getting a basic glassware kit like this
http://www.amazon.com/SEOH-Glassware-Set-piece-Everyday/dp/B...
or this
http://www.amazon.com/A-Daigger-Company-General-Glassware/dp...
then get some chemicals.
As you do experiments record what you see and get some measuring tools like a scale.
Good luck
[Edited on 22-12-2013 by bismuthate]
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Bot0nist
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Mayko mentioned many things that most people neglect. An accurate 0.1gram resolution scale, some small volumetric flasks and pipettes for measuring
liquids, and a notebook and good pen to record everything. A lot of simple chemistry can be done with household and OTC chemicals, so dont worry to
much on those.
Other than that, I second woelens advide. A small set of test tubes and some small beakers to heat in are very handy. A well lit and ventalated
workspace is a must as well.
U.T.F.S.E. and learn the joys of autodidacticism!
Don't judge each day only by the harvest you reap, but also by the seeds you sow.
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S.C. Wack
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Fire extinguishers. Vermiculite, sand, baking soda... At work, we go through a ton (at least) of basically clay kitty litter per year. There's a 15#
bag of the DE type of absorbent here.
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