18 replies to this topic

[GuiltyCol]

The irony of the situation is that most of this is new to me too. I had the worlds most boring Chemistry teacher at school so dropped GCSE Chemistry having learnt next to nothing. I'm quiet seriously thinking of doing a GCSE Chemistry or something similar in my spare time. So I actually have no idea what the boiling water in a paper bag experiement will do (I assume blow up the bag, and hope not pop it!) nor what colours universal indicator even turns acids and alkalines.

That in many respects is why I'm here, there's a whole field of science with a practical application to learn. I fully intend this being a life time hobby, that's why I'm in no rush. Still reading the IPP, and to be honest for someone at my level, it's actually not introductory enough! I'll be able to answer all the questions I have myself, but just as an example, in one of the project ingredients list it mentions "Airfloat C". I think I know enough to know that "C" is Charcoal even though this is never explained in the book, but at the moment I have no idea what the "Airfloat" means. I'm not asking for the answer, I'm just saying that the book has not defined or explained it (and many other things too), and as such is not the beginners guide it professes to be.

[fishy1]

i know what you mean, i'm doing chemistry standard grade atmo (like GCSE level), and it's pretty boring. i learn more from pyro than i do from my teacher. school chemistry isn't going to be much practical stuff, alot of it's working out equations and stuff, and experiments that you do tend to be pretty tame, the most exciting thing we've done all year is burn a tiny piece of sodium in oxygen.









hehe, in a recent pretty big test, a big question came up on BaSO4, that was good as it was about why is wasn't toxic, and i knew it because of this forum!

[Amleth]

I understand! It was just a joke!

I cannot be bothered to get all political tonight, and get all off topic, but; on the news a week ago I saw a new product that some shops are using to deter young thieves, but young people in general at the same time. And what is worse is the news portrayed it as good light hearted thing. They use a high pitch loud noise that older people cannot hear. I could not believe it, I actually felt like writing to an MP or something, I thought it an absolute outrage. What about the 3 year old that HAS to go there because his/her parent is going there? The poor might would not have any choice but be assaulted and abused by the company. And what about me I thought, I can still hear well into 19 kHz. Its disgusting, but an example of the few spoiling it for the many, and the stupid doing ridiculous things. I mean, talk about discrimination!

That's bloody ridiculous. If there timing were better <cough>April<cough> I'd have assumed it was a joke article or something...

If I was a Brit and a still a teenager I'd show up at the shop and make make a point of casually mentioning to the manager that I really felt the place had a pleasant "vibe", though I couldn't express why, and that I really felt like it'd be a great place to hang around. For some strange reason I just felt "drawn" to it as I was walking past, and had to go in and look around. Then I'd hang around for 20 minutes asking pointless, inane questions about items I could obviously never afford, and generally looking as suspicious as possible.

I'd pass the word around my school, etc, too. Get enough people doing this and you'll have them thinking it has the opposite effect to what they want, and they might pack the whole silly idea in...

(For best effect wear your "lairy"-est clothes [with lots of pockets!], a glazed look, and slur your speech a lot. Maybe stand around shelves of small, concealable merchandise doing your best to look shifty...)

[Gaspipe58]

In hurry - quick thinking

Chemistry set, good idea, get them interesting now and the basics covered, install good practice at early age.

Indicators - red cabbage - great for younger people.

Boiling water in paper bag - forgot that one. Might suggest it to the physists tomorrow.

Ultrasonic brat deterrent - great! No kids (bet they don't comeback when they've grown up) and every dog for miles going loopy.

Tim