Will It Explode?
On the Purification of Peroxides.
Peroxy reagents such as mCPBA are stabilised with impurities,
e.g. water or the parent acid. The purification/drying of such reagents
is discussed. |
pp 1-4 |
Potassium: The Firestarter, Twisted Firestarter.
Potassium is much "hairier" than many chemists appreciate, causing
many unexpected conflagrations in the laboratory. Ignition of ethanol and
methanol was found to be reliably effected by metallic potassium. |
pp 5-6 |
The Effects of Inert-Gas
Balloon Colours Upon Reaction Yields.
Latex balloons are routinely used as sources of low-pressure inert
gas. The effect of balloon colour upon a series of test-reactions was investigated. |
pp 7-10
|
Great Results: How to Achieve Them With
Statistics.
Statistics are "the next best thing to lying". Some simple ways to
achieve positive spin every time, regardless of yield. |
pp 11-16 |
101 Compounds That Won't
Run on GC.
A pre-requisite for GC analysis is that analytes must have relatively
low boiling points. 101 compounds which do not fulfill this requirement
are presented here. |
pp 17-24 |
Preparation of Iron(III)chloride from an
Ika Thermometer and Methanolic HCl.
Iron(III)chloride was prepared by the immersion of a "stainless" steel
Ika thermometer in refluxing methanolic hydrogen chloride, overnight. |
pp 25-26 |
"Never Start a Column
After 4 pm": Superstition or Sense?
The efficacy of silica chromatography in the late afternoon was investigated
on all five weekdays, and Saturday. |
pp 27-28 |
I Love the Smell of IPA in the Morning.
Solvent Vapours: Perfumes or Poisons?
The therapeutic effect of "pleasant" solvent vapours upon the general
well-being of researchers was compared to their harmful effects. |
pp 29-30 |
Cardice® vs Drikold®,
a comparison.
Two commercial forms of solid carbon dioxide were compared, as low-temperature
cryogens. |
pp 31-32 |
10 Things Not to tell Your Supervisor.
Diplomacy in research, from the researcher's point of view. |
pp 33-34 |
