Interesting...
Dec. 21st, 2007 01:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
johnridleyI just watched an episode of Wired Science, where they talked about the demise of the chemistry set. They showed a lot of old chemistry sets from the 50s, and said that in the 40s and 50s, pretty much every house with a kid had a chemistry set. The packages always featured kids having fun with chemistry, maybe showed a picture of a respectable older gentleman (girls got "lab technician" sets) that they could aspire to be.
Then they showed what you get these days. There are no chemicals inside. None. I'm assuming that the experiments are along the lines of diet soda and mentos. Also, pictured on the box is some stupid cartoon idiot holding some glasswear. Now you can laugh at the geek, instead of aspiring to be one.
They talked to several professional chemists, and every one of them played with a chemistry set as a kid. They also all pretty much agreed that danger and taking risks is part of science, and they were worried that kids these days weren't being taught to take risks of any kind, and that was probably a good part of the reason that there are continually fewer kids going into science.
They also visited a place called United Nuclear. This is a place where you can still get a lot of chemicals and elements that are otherwise pretty hard to find. They've been busted by the feds once already. I think they really deserve a hand; it's the behavior THEY encourage, not the "never allow kids to be in any kind of danger" types, that will result in the kids growing up (well, the vast majority of them anyway...) to be happy, successful and productive.
On their web site at unitednuclear.com you can get everything from crushed corn cobbs to heavy water. They seem to be fans of thermite. Check them out if you're looking for a fun project. Heck, you can get some bismuth and grow cool crystals in 30 minutes with a blowtorch; it's not even dangerous (particularly).
Then they showed what you get these days. There are no chemicals inside. None. I'm assuming that the experiments are along the lines of diet soda and mentos. Also, pictured on the box is some stupid cartoon idiot holding some glasswear. Now you can laugh at the geek, instead of aspiring to be one.
They talked to several professional chemists, and every one of them played with a chemistry set as a kid. They also all pretty much agreed that danger and taking risks is part of science, and they were worried that kids these days weren't being taught to take risks of any kind, and that was probably a good part of the reason that there are continually fewer kids going into science.
They also visited a place called United Nuclear. This is a place where you can still get a lot of chemicals and elements that are otherwise pretty hard to find. They've been busted by the feds once already. I think they really deserve a hand; it's the behavior THEY encourage, not the "never allow kids to be in any kind of danger" types, that will result in the kids growing up (well, the vast majority of them anyway...) to be happy, successful and productive.
On their web site at unitednuclear.com you can get everything from crushed corn cobbs to heavy water. They seem to be fans of thermite. Check them out if you're looking for a fun project. Heck, you can get some bismuth and grow cool crystals in 30 minutes with a blowtorch; it's not even dangerous (particularly).
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-12-21 07:51 pm (UTC)That reminds me. I think I need to get someones kid a "My First Reactive Metals Set" for Christmas.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-21 08:04 pm (UTC)http://curiousminds.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/605?osCsid=5e6804a0f6becc1bfcd1700d6c525ade
probably just pretty 'dissolve in water and watch the colour change' stuff.
My chemistry sets, back when I was a lad, contained K and Na CLO3 (though it did warn about chlorate...), NO3, some permanganate, sulphur, charcoal (and blackpowder mixing instructions) plus a few other favourites like ammonium dichromate and coils of Magnesium tape.
I could also walk into our local chemist's shop (none of this newfangled 'pharmacy' nonsense back then) and buy refills. Can you imagine the fuss if an eleven year old walked into a store and confidently asked for half pound quantities of KNO3, Flowers of Sulphur and charcoal today?
I also used to be able to buy methanol, castor oil and nitromethane by the pint for fuel for model aero-engines.
As for sodium chlorate weedkiller, a gang of us (aged, by now, 12 or 13) used to go into a home supply store near the school and buy the stuff by the pound - and then go to the grocery store for sugar and head off to the waste ground by the golf course for some lunchtime exothermic fun...
no subject
Date: 2007-12-21 10:58 pm (UTC)