I don't suppose!

[shelley bda]

Thanks again to everyone Didn't think it would end up being such a thread of interest he's not started his GCSE coursework yet, still in year 9. He's in the top group for science, but it's not one of his favourite subjects. His Brother tried to explain the process, but whether it was Luke's understanding or Mikes explaning I don't know, Luke was still none the wiser lol

[jim]

Think i had to do this for my coursework - burning alcohols and measuring the energy released, i miss school

Yep, that was my very first A-level chemistry coursework.

And I managed to successfully disprove this thread and show that methanol was more exothermic than ethanol

Accuracy never was my strong point

[shadowmaster]

Yep, that was my very first A-level chemistry coursework.

And I managed to successfully disprove this thread and show that methanol was more exothermic than ethanol

Accuracy never was my strong point

Ever tried titration?

[jim]

Ever tried titration?

Grief, yes

For the final part of my A-level, no less - a sixth of my entire grade! I was testing methods to ascertain the concentration of Cu 2+ ions in solution, two of which involved titration.

One of them was fine, the other involved this vilely long list of steps, the first of which involved adding numerous drops of chemical A to chemical B until mixture C of the correct proportions was produced, which was then used as part of the titration.

The only problem was that after adding the correct amount of chemical A, mixture C was meant to be greeny-yellow, and I couldn't work out for the life of me what colour was right. I got lime greens, golds, 11 different shades of urine, heck knows what. And I'd only discover I'd done it wrong when 20 minutes later I'd titred in enough CuSO4 to kill a rhino and the predicted colour change still hadn't happened.

Fun times

[scaryjim]

Could be worse. My first University chem practical - or at least the first I went to - was making aspirin. I'd missed the actual first practical because I was at a funeral, and I don't think I ever really regained my focus that year. As a perfect illustration, I carefully read and followed all the steps of my practical for creating aspirin, and at the point where I should have masses of crystals forming, my solution was still as clear as water. So I looked back, and discovered I'd somehow managed to mix up a couple of the amounts and there was going to be absolutely no chance of getting any aspirin from my mixture at all. That was pretty much the point at which I gave up on both chemistry practicals, and my career as a scientist!

[kidzer]

Aww, I miss school chemistry.

If I wasn't a Computer Nerd, I'd be chasing a career as a Chemistry Geek!

[shadowmaster]

Fun times

Ah yes the chemistry practical paper, what a load of . The only good thing about that exam was that you could move around and therefore compare answers with your peers

[jim]

Ah yes the chemistry practical paper, what a load of . The only good thing about that exam was that you could move around and therefore compare answers with your peers

Yup, over half of us took the copper ions option and that tactic worked a treat

[Powderhound]

Ever tried titration?

I'm currently doing A2 chemistry, and these things are the bane of my life; I can either do them quickly and or accurately, but not both, making the procurement of concordant results a nightmare. That's why I'm doing medicine.

[TAKTAK]

The chemicals I use for work (epoxy resins)

Pure epoxy or epoxy acrylate?

What make are they?

I've always wondered who makes resin, besides the ones we stock and silly Hilti.

[megah0]

Could be worse. My first University chem practical - or at least the first I went to - was making aspirin. I'd missed the actual first practical because I was at a funeral, and I don't think I ever really regained my focus that year. As a perfect illustration, I carefully read and followed all the steps of my practical for creating aspirin, and at the point where I should have masses of crystals forming, my solution was still as clear as water. So I looked back, and discovered I'd somehow managed to mix up a couple of the amounts and there was going to be absolutely no chance of getting any aspirin from my mixture at all. That was pretty much the point at which I gave up on both chemistry practicals, and my career as a scientist!

I had the same A level chem practical.

I'm allergic to Aspirin.

I spent 6 weeks not allowed to set foot inside the chemistry building, its hard writing a practical report when you have not been in the same building as the experiment!

[Funkstar]

Pure epoxy or epoxy acrylate?

Pure epoxy as far as I know.

What make are they?

The ones we use come straight from the bulk manufacturers. They probably make for the likes of Hilti and hundreds of other companies.

Here is one manufacturer I know of: http://www.epoxi.com/main/home.asp

I can't remember any other names off the top of my head, but we buy from several, both in the US and in Europe. Then there are companies that mill fibre glass, Kevlar and carbon fibre cloth and matting for us. We also deal with more off the shelf epoxy products like those sold by Devcon. They might be manufacturers, but they may sub out to others like the ones above for some things.

[shelley bda]

Poor Lukey! after all that, he gets to his science class today and another kid says "Miss? I didn't understand the homework on exothermic reaction" the teacher then said "What homework? I didn't set homework"

Surley she'll wonder whats going on when she looks through all their books and sees their answers to a question that she didn't apparently set!

[Behemoth]

I had a biology teacher like that. He once gave me when I was in year 9 an A level piece of work to do and expected us to have it handed in the very next morning. We all did the work,well there were one or two that didn't.

Anyway when we got our books back the following week it was un marked. When we asked why he said "I didn't set that work"

[shelley bda]

I had a biology teacher like that. He once gave me when I was in year 9 an A level piece of work to do and expected us to have it handed in the very next morning. We all did the work,well there were one or two that didn't.

Anyway when we got our books back the following week it was un marked. When we asked why he said "I didn't set that work"

Lmao! I bet you were all gutted!

I met this lady at parents eveing recently and she really is mad as a box of frogs, I thought she was great! Luke's first words as we were lining up were "This is going to be rubbish, i'm no good at science!" sat down expecting a - could try harder, needs to make more effort - and I got. "So lovely to meet you Mrs Powell! Luke is doing ever so well, top of the class" then she showed me a picture of Luke she had from year 7, and she'd drawn long hair on him - I already knew what she did, because Luke saw her watching him and scribbling in her book, so goes over to see what's she's doing and she's pencilled in his long hair over the short on his pic Then we talked about anything but science and Luke, from cars, to driving to shoes lol

[Behemoth]

Lmao! I bet you were all gutted!

I met this lady at parents eveing recently and she really is mad as a box of frogs, I thought she was great! Luke's first words as we were lining up were "This is going to be rubbish, i'm no good at science!" sat down expecting a - could try harder, needs to make more effort - and I got. "So lovely to meet you Mrs Powell! Luke is doing ever so well, top of the class" then she showed me a picture of Luke she had from year 7, and she'd drawn long hair on him - I already knew what she did, because Luke saw her watching him and scribbling in her book, so goes over to see what's she's doing and she's pencilled in his long hair over the short on his pic Then we talked about anything but science and Luke, from cars, to driving to shoes lol

Totally ! I was so mad I actually went to make an official complaint about him too. It wasn't the first time he'd set work that was way too hard for the level we were working to, and it wasn't the first time he'd demanded work in the VERY next morning when the homework schedule stated he wasn't supposed to set any that night.

Anyway when he did mark it, I was the only one who got it right. He learned never to pull that trick again though. I don't recall him ever setting homework after that momumental screw up ever again.

I think this guy was just a mad as your lads teacher to be honest. He used to drive a Ford Sierra that was rusting away. He then had it sprayed bright yellow with paw prints all over it.

Hell the things I remember, I was 14 then, and 28 now, I need to get out more.