Chemistry at Home: How To Set Up Your Lab for those interested
improvised
chemistry laboratory setup - for those interested in setting up their very
own home chemistry laboratory.
own home chemistry laboratory.
Are you interested in having the means to try chemistry experiments at home?
Make a lab.
We will be using various methods shown in this lecture.
We will try to minimize cost wherever possible and thus use the
most readily available materials.
However, I will present a more costly
albeit better quality option for some of these. Read with an open and resourceful
mind and be able to expand on these ideas.
Note: No
experiments are involved.
Step 1:
The Home Chemistry Lab Overview.
Intro: Chemistry is a fascinating and beautiful subject. It is also very complex and
the source of many headaches.
The fact that you are reading this shows you harbor a certain curiosity for it already.
Or maybe you've randomly
stumbled into this instruct able by fate... In any case, the first step to starting
your lab at home is planting the seed of curiosity for the subject. Get to know the
subject at the level you want by visiting your library or through online
research.
Mind you! Curiosity is like a fire- it will die if not sustained.
In order to keep
that desire for
knowledge kindled, you must constantly ask yourself these questions, such as
"what is an acid?" or "what happens when bread rises?".
More rigorous questions in
the area of chemistry are of the form : "Can I make X compound
from
household items? Will X react with Y to form Z? Can I purify this compound?
Can I find if this household product contains X compound?" and so on.
If you want
a great foundation for the science, there are a variety of resources out there.
Setting Your
Goals:I hope that people of all backgrounds will read this instructable.
With people from all levels of knowledge on the subject, it is up to you to
decide where you want to take this.
Some examples of great goals are as
follows:
- I want to
teach myself chemistry and I will take up home chemistry as a
supplemental
learning tool.
- I will
create a semblance of a lab in the summer so that I can take up
chemistry as
a hobby.
- I will
create a lab environment for homeschooling.
- I will
create a temporary lab for the upcoming science fair in order to work
comfortably
in a home environment.
- I want to
augment my own home lab by extracting some ideas from this
instructable.
Once you
come up with your own goal, it's time to start on a scientific journey.
Step 2:
Materials and Tools
The first
step in any procedure should be to collect the materials needed. To set
up a lab, a
good way to start is to scavenge your garage, kitchen, etc. for useful
items.
Also,
you must start a collection of sorts, i.e. keeping in mind not to throw away that
liquor bottle you just finished.
Look for
these easily accessible items:
-glass jars
-glass
bottles
-glass vase
-metal or
plastic tubes (i.e. from pens,)
-wire
hangers : you can shape these into a number of useful contraptions with
pliers
-ash tray : for
dealing with molten glass or igniting a substance.
-aluminum
cans: top can be cut off with a can opener and used as a container.
-spice vials
-plastic
containers and organizers
-latex,
neoprene, or nitrile gloves
-boxes (for
storing)
-knife
-razors
-sponges
-rags or old
clothing for cleaning/polilshing
-cloth pins
-glass or
steel rod
-scrap wood
-school
supply boxes
-clamps and pegs
-lighters/matches
-super glue
-corks
-candles
-toothbrush
-as cleaning utensil
-spray
bottle
-funnel and
coffee filters for filtering solutions
-plastic
pail for waste
-liquid soap
dispenser
-permanent
marker
-measuring
cup
-paper
towels
Might Have
to Buy:
-glass
medicine droppers, you can also use these as shaping glass
- Metal Polish (optional - some applications for aesthetics as well as
improvised
apparatuses)
- goo gone (
or any functional label remover, such as rubbing alcohol)
-beakers
- flasks
-rubber
chair tips
-test tubes
-aquarium
tubing
-red and
blue litmus paper
-6v battery
-sand paper
-white
sticker labels
Tools:
-Pliers
-Glue gun
-Bernzomatic
micro-torch [very much recommended and not that expensive]
-Scissors
-Tweezers
-Test Tube
Holder
Hardware:
-Homemade
alcohol stove Or Camping lamp modified as an alcohol burner
-Wire Stands
-Wire Test
Tube Holder
-A scale of
reasonable accuracy, such as in food scales.
Of course,
this is not a complete list of things you will end up needing, only
some
essential ones.
Step 3:
Organization and Safety
Organization
is crucial in a laboratory. A good way to store utensils is to
separate
them into materials, i.e. rubber, scrap metal, scrap glass, chemicals,
etc. The
more meticulous one is, the easier it will become to locate needed
materials
for a procedure.
Safety
First!: There are certain safety rules you must follow, and these should
be present
within a given procedure.
As a general rule, ALWAYS Use chemical gloves, an
old coat, and safety goggles.
Do not drink or eat during a procedure. Use closed
toe shoes (no sandals). Also, experiments producing gas should be done outside
or under a ventilation directing device.
Remember that a safety shower and
wash station is readily available in the home in the form of a shower, sink, or
hose.
Acids/Bases:
An acid contributes hydrogen cations (protons) to a solution,
while a
base donates an electron pair (this is a simplified definition). When
Waste: The
lab must be meticulously clean while not in use. There must be two
separate
waste receptacles: one for hazardous waste (i.e., broken
glass,
flammable substances ) and another for regular waste.
For hazardous chemicals, methods of disposing are usually on the labels of bottles. If in doubt, do some research on local recycling and collecting centers.
For hazardous chemicals, methods of disposing are usually on the labels of bottles. If in doubt, do some research on local recycling and collecting centers.
Labeling:
Make sure to always label chemicals stored in vials correctly. A
rigorous
approach would require that molar concentrations and safety
information
also be labeled.
Also label storage compartments with their contents
Also label storage compartments with their contents
lab, though
a good rule is to store tools and spare parts separately.
Environment: It is always a good idea to build your lab near a window or well
ventilated
area.
Good lighting is important when carrying out experiments.
Good lighting is important when carrying out experiments.
It's also a
good idea to have a designated area outside of your house for
experiments
which may require it.
Always know what you are doing in an experiment, as it may not be stated explicitly that gas products may form.
Always know what you are doing in an experiment, as it may not be stated explicitly that gas products may form.
Lab
Aesthetics: A poorly conceived lab will just look like clutter. It is important
to make it
stand out - it will add a very nice vibe to your house. You should store
large
containers out of sight and only have a few chemicals on display. Also
an
eye-catcher is clean and shiny equipment. Have your favorite flask out. Take
Pride in
your work. How many people have the opportunity to have a lab in their
house?
Step 4:
Glassware
Glass
Containers/Reaction Vessels: Glass is certainly a very important material for
carrying out experiments. Quality depends on its makeup- borosilicate glass
being the most widely used in labs. Only certain types of glass should be used
for heating. If you bought lab-grade glass, then you should have no problem
heating it. However, it is often difficult to determine the makeup of standard
glass used in bottles and jars. Normally, the bottles you've recycled should be
safe to carry out most reactions. One instance where glass may not be the best
option is when sodium hydroxide is involved. This slowly reacts with glass, so
be wary of the instructions in such cases. In cases where glass is reactive,
teflon or other plastic containers are used.
Recycled: I
use spice vials, jars, and some bottles to store different chemicals and
sometimes use them as reaction flasks.
New: I found
flasks with corks at the Michael's arts and crafts store for 99 cents. I've
boiled substances in these over my alcohol burner and heated sulfuric acid in
them - with no breakage. You will have
to buy test tubes, beakers, and graduated cylinders from a lab retailer if you
need them. They are also sold as kits at Hobby Lobby. Check your local hobby
stores for similar items.
Step 5:
Chemicals
Be wary of
the safety and storage measures for handling certain chemicals. It is often
best to store chemicals in glass vials labeled with their formula and percent
concentration.You should keep chemicals with large containers
in their respective areas and only store a small sample of it in your lab. This
will save space and time. You will find yourself not having a certain chemical
at some point in your amateur chemist career, so I will try to list the most
useful chemicals to collect in my opinion.
Chemicals to store:
-Alcohol
Chemicals to store:
-Alcohol
- Hydrochloric acid
-Butane
-Hydrogen Peroxide
-Glycerin
-Clorox Bleach
-Salt
-Distilled Water
-Potassium Chloride (salt substitute)
-White Vinegar
-Ammonia
-Acetone
-Hydrochloric Acid
-Sulfuric Acid (certain brands of drain opener or at a local auto shop)
-Borax
-Ammonium nitrate (from instant cold packs)
-Baking Soda
-Lye (sodium hydroxide)
-Battery Chemicals (carbon, zinc, manganese dioxide, and amonium/zinc chloride)
-Stump remover (potassium nitrate)
-Potassium permanganate
-Sugar
-Battery Chemicals (best obtained from a 6v battery):
-Butane
-Hydrogen Peroxide
-Glycerin
-Clorox Bleach
-Salt
-Distilled Water
-Potassium Chloride (salt substitute)
-White Vinegar
-Ammonia
-Acetone
-Hydrochloric Acid
-Sulfuric Acid (certain brands of drain opener or at a local auto shop)
-Borax
-Ammonium nitrate (from instant cold packs)
-Baking Soda
-Lye (sodium hydroxide)
-Battery Chemicals (carbon, zinc, manganese dioxide, and amonium/zinc chloride)
-Stump remover (potassium nitrate)
-Potassium permanganate
-Sugar
-Battery Chemicals (best obtained from a 6v battery):
- Manganese Dioxide (found in
batteries)
- Zinc metal
- Carbon Electrode
Step 6:
Heat Source
Heating:
Intrinsic to chemistry is a source of heat to carry out more reaction. I bought
a camping lantern at walmart and modified it as an alcohol burner. You can also
make a cheap alcohol stove as I later explain on step 7. Another option is to
carry out experiments on your kitchen stove, (use personal judgement on
this). In some instances a blowtorch is
called for. I have used a micro torch which I bought at Home Depot. Just make sure you buy some butane fuel for
it. Store these items in a cool and dry environment. To heat substances, simply
make a stand out of wire and place about an inch above the flame's tip. Use
thermometers for precise heating.
Many amateur
chemists make the decision of investing on a hotplate and I highly recommend
this if you have the funds, as it is one of the most useful pieces of equipment
in the chemist's arsenal (can't stress that enough).
Step 7:
Shaping Glass Tubes
Certain
experiments call for various glass apparatuses which are expensive and hard to
obtain. I've used my micro torch and glass tubes obtained from medicine
droppers to make bent glass tubes and have also been able to mend them into
larger tubes. However, the best source for glass tubes of all shapes and sizes
are online, such as these.
In retrospect, working with these professional tubes is MUCH better and cheaper.
An alcohol burner can shape glass tubes as well, but takes much longer
and is less safe. Plastic tubes from pens also readily bend under fire and are
much cheaper, but are also of substantially lesser quality and have lesser
applications than glass tubing.
Glass Shaping Technique : Exercise extreme caution when dealing with molten glass.
The Process is quite simple, yet difficult to execute at first. Heat about an inch of the glass tube evenly by rotating it slowly around an open flame. Glass melting time varies depending on heat source. Once it's soft, bend quickly into a right angle. Set aside for cooling.
To mend two glass tubes together, simply insert the thin end of one tube into the thick end of another and melt along where they meet using the same rotating process used to bend them. Once melted soft, apply pressure to make a stronger bond. Note: These make delicate glassware. Be careful in using them.
-You can drill holes in the chair tips we're using as rubber stoppers and fit them nicely to make a gas generator among other things.
Glass Shaping Technique : Exercise extreme caution when dealing with molten glass.
The Process is quite simple, yet difficult to execute at first. Heat about an inch of the glass tube evenly by rotating it slowly around an open flame. Glass melting time varies depending on heat source. Once it's soft, bend quickly into a right angle. Set aside for cooling.
To mend two glass tubes together, simply insert the thin end of one tube into the thick end of another and melt along where they meet using the same rotating process used to bend them. Once melted soft, apply pressure to make a stronger bond. Note: These make delicate glassware. Be careful in using them.
-You can drill holes in the chair tips we're using as rubber stoppers and fit them nicely to make a gas generator among other things.
Step 8:
Making Things
You might
find yourself on a tight budget or unable to obtain certain lab items. This is
where your creativity kicks in. Try to make lab tools and hardware yourself
using wood, wire, scrap metal, etc. Below are just a few examples of such
improvised items.
Alcohol Stove Burner: I bought a lantern, but you can make a cheap stove burner from aluminum can and alcohol fuel. There are numerous instructables on this topic, so I won't include it.
Wire Stand/Holder: You can use coat hanger wire to build almost anything. Bend wire into a circle and attach three straight wires of equal length with epoxy putty to make a stand.
Wire Test Tube Holder: I will make another instructable on this subject.
Glass Tubing and Joints: As discussed in the previous step.
Lab Clamp for easy heating: Can be made by drilling a spring grip clip (used for holding brooms, rakes, etc. in place) onto a stand.
Distilling Aparatus and Clamp: An aparatus that distills made from a wood frame, condenser, and DIY water pump. Serves as a clamp for heating as well. I will upload the instructable for this project at some point.
Alcohol Stove Burner: I bought a lantern, but you can make a cheap stove burner from aluminum can and alcohol fuel. There are numerous instructables on this topic, so I won't include it.
Wire Stand/Holder: You can use coat hanger wire to build almost anything. Bend wire into a circle and attach three straight wires of equal length with epoxy putty to make a stand.
Wire Test Tube Holder: I will make another instructable on this subject.
Glass Tubing and Joints: As discussed in the previous step.
Lab Clamp for easy heating: Can be made by drilling a spring grip clip (used for holding brooms, rakes, etc. in place) onto a stand.
Distilling Aparatus and Clamp: An aparatus that distills made from a wood frame, condenser, and DIY water pump. Serves as a clamp for heating as well. I will upload the instructable for this project at some point.
Step 9:
On Your Own
Is home
chemistry controversial? Has it become a taboo in our society? Unfortunately,
clandestine chemistry has been tied to the drug trade and even terrorism. But
there is far more to this beautiful art than the negative. I have laid out the
main aspects of my own chemistry hobbyist lab. I should point out that I am
currently a chemistry student and really enjoy experimentation outside
the world of theoretical textbook work. However, I really encourage
anyone to pick up this wonderful hobby that will give you hours of fun
scientific intrigue. If you do it right, you can share it with your friends and
loved ones rather than practicing it in fear and secrecy.
"...whatever you decide for the future, keep up your interest in chemistry as a hobby. In addition to giving you fun and enjoyment, your chemical hobby will sharpen your powers of observation and reasoning and train your mind for whatever occupation you decide upon for a lifework. "
- The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments
"...whatever you decide for the future, keep up your interest in chemistry as a hobby. In addition to giving you fun and enjoyment, your chemical hobby will sharpen your powers of observation and reasoning and train your mind for whatever occupation you decide upon for a lifework. "
- The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments
Source:instructables/Insidechemistry
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