Identifying chemicals in an old chemistry set
Sulaiman, Wed Apr 16 2014, 01:04PMI have an old Salter/Merit Young Scientist 'Chemistry 100' set that I bought long ago for my children, who had no interest in it at all
I just dug it out from my shed since I'm playing chemistry (electroplating) again.
Most of the labels have corroded so I wonder if any members have similar just to identify the contents of the 12 tubes.
(Google search failed)
One of them looks like Copper Sulphate.
One of them must have been deliquescent as it now contains liquid
(Calcium Chloride ?)
Labels that can be read;
7 Phenol-Pthalein
8 Zinc
9 Calcium Carbonate
10 Ammonium(II) Sulphate ?(not sure)
11 Iron(II) Sulphate
12 Sodium Thiosulphate
Re: Identifying chemicals in an old chemistry set
Bored Chemist, Wed Apr 16 2014, 07:28PM
I presume the book is missing.
I'd guess at cobalt chloride, sulphur, and logwood chips as contenders.
Post pictures and I will see if my magical ability to recognise white powders* is still extant.
* gleaned from many years of not labeling things properly.
This might also help
Bored Chemist, Wed Apr 16 2014, 07:28PM
I presume the book is missing.
I'd guess at cobalt chloride, sulphur, and logwood chips as contenders.
Post pictures and I will see if my magical ability to recognise white powders* is still extant.
* gleaned from many years of not labeling things properly.
This might also help
Re: Identifying chemicals in an old chemistry set
Sulaiman, Wed Apr 16 2014, 08:52PM
yes I have lost the manual and all of the unidentified chemicals are white powder/crystalline.
I'll do some flame and pH tests and if I can guess then I can test them as they are surely common 'chemistry set' chemicals.
It's not important as I only need thiosulphate for plating experiments and the label is still ok
the others are just for 'playing'
If I get stuck I'll post some photo's, thanks for the offer of help.
P.S. the HCl and HNO3 that I bought for electroplating experiments have familiar strong odours but the H2SO4 is almost odourless which surprised me. Is it because I'm used to dilute or old/decomposing sulfuric acid or has my nose died?
Sulaiman, Wed Apr 16 2014, 08:52PM
yes I have lost the manual and all of the unidentified chemicals are white powder/crystalline.
I'll do some flame and pH tests and if I can guess then I can test them as they are surely common 'chemistry set' chemicals.
It's not important as I only need thiosulphate for plating experiments and the label is still ok
the others are just for 'playing'
If I get stuck I'll post some photo's, thanks for the offer of help.
P.S. the HCl and HNO3 that I bought for electroplating experiments have familiar strong odours but the H2SO4 is almost odourless which surprised me. Is it because I'm used to dilute or old/decomposing sulfuric acid or has my nose died?
Re: Identifying chemicals in an old chemistry set
Bored Chemist, Thu Apr 17 2014, 03:36PM
Sulphuric acid has a very high boiling point (about 300C) and isn't very volatile so- with no vapour, there's no odour.
Nevertheless, stop sniffing acids.
Bored Chemist, Thu Apr 17 2014, 03:36PM
Sulphuric acid has a very high boiling point (about 300C) and isn't very volatile so- with no vapour, there's no odour.
Nevertheless, stop sniffing acids.
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