Comments on: A hobby under threat? http://affable-lurking.org/blog/2006/06/01/a-hobby-under-threat/ It's worse than that, it's physics, Jim. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:57:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Quink http://affable-lurking.org/blog/2006/06/01/a-hobby-under-threat/#comment-1214 Quink Fri, 09 Jun 2006 09:36:38 +0000 http://affable-lurking.org/blog/?p=79#comment-1214 I'm glad that's the sugar experiment cleared up. Pretty much the only thing I remember clearly from Chemistry - I lost interest rapidly as soon as moles and valences heaved on to the scene - was the continual injunction from my chemistry master to hold beakers with our little fingers supporting the bottom. Makes accidents less likely, apparently, and it's now so ingrained that I always hold my pints like that. I’m glad that’s the sugar experiment cleared up. Pretty much the only thing I remember clearly from Chemistry – I lost interest rapidly as soon as moles and valences heaved on to the scene – was the continual injunction from my chemistry master to hold beakers with our little fingers supporting the bottom. Makes accidents less likely, apparently, and it’s now so ingrained that I always hold my pints like that.

]]> By: dtl http://affable-lurking.org/blog/2006/06/01/a-hobby-under-threat/#comment-1206 dtl Mon, 05 Jun 2006 18:30:16 +0000 http://affable-lurking.org/blog/?p=79#comment-1206 Quink: I had no problems getting the chemistry set, but when I wanted a saw I couldn't have one. I had to make do with an old break knife to cut wood. I was more of a danger to myself with that than I'd have been with any kind of saw. Good old potassium permagenate is still a source of fun for me. Permagenate and glycerine is still one of my favourite household-chemical experiments. The flame you get is a wonderful purple colour. Sulphuric acid and sugar is the reaction you mention - that's one all schools seem to demo because of the wow factor. It has next to no real use though. The concentrated acid just dehydrates the sugar leaving the carbon behind. Quink: I had no problems getting the chemistry set, but when I wanted a saw I couldn’t have one. I had to make do with an old break knife to cut wood. I was more of a danger to myself with that than I’d have been with any kind of saw.

Good old potassium permagenate is still a source of fun for me. Permagenate and glycerine is still one of my favourite household-chemical experiments. The flame you get is a wonderful purple colour. Sulphuric acid and sugar is the reaction you mention – that’s one all schools seem to demo because of the wow factor. It has next to no real use though. The concentrated acid just dehydrates the sugar leaving the carbon behind.

]]> By: Quink http://affable-lurking.org/blog/2006/06/01/a-hobby-under-threat/#comment-1205 Quink Fri, 02 Jun 2006 12:12:18 +0000 http://affable-lurking.org/blog/?p=79#comment-1205 Sadly, although I lusted for a chemistry set, I was never allowed to have one. Air rifles? No problem. Knives? Ditto. Cans of petrol. No-one batted an eyelid. But could I have a chemistry set? Nope. So I used to find things like jars of potassium permanganate (BP) in the bathroom and read with glee instructions like "Do not mix with flammable materials". Anyway, I think it's sad if the sets are dumbed down, but I doubt it will stop any kid with spirit blowing himself up if he wants to. For me, I used to love that school experiment where you would add some sort of acid to a beaker of sugar, causing it to bubble, reek, go black and push itself out the top of the container. What was all that about, I wonder? Sadly, although I lusted for a chemistry set, I was never allowed to have one. Air rifles? No problem. Knives? Ditto. Cans of petrol. No-one batted an eyelid. But could I have a chemistry set? Nope. So I used to find things like jars of potassium permanganate (BP) in the bathroom and read with glee instructions like “Do not mix with flammable materials”.

Anyway, I think it’s sad if the sets are dumbed down, but I doubt it will stop any kid with spirit blowing himself up if he wants to. For me, I used to love that school experiment where you would add some sort of acid to a beaker of sugar, causing it to bubble, reek, go black and push itself out the top of the container. What was all that about, I wonder?

]]> By: Nova http://affable-lurking.org/blog/2006/06/01/a-hobby-under-threat/#comment-1202 Nova Thu, 01 Jun 2006 14:15:37 +0000 http://affable-lurking.org/blog/?p=79#comment-1202 We had a conversation about this not to long ago I think. I remember being disapointed with my chemistry set as well, but that may have been more to do with my expectations than any lack of anything "fun" I was amazed to find out that schools these days don't even disect animals, to me that was one of the best parts of class. Do you think it's down to the "nanny state" these days? We had a conversation about this not to long ago I think. I remember being disapointed with my chemistry set as well, but that may have been more to do with my expectations than any lack of anything “fun”

I was amazed to find out that schools these days don’t even disect animals, to me that was one of the best parts of class.

Do you think it’s down to the “nanny state” these days?

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