The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Laws re: Science Equipment
joshofalltrades
Class TraitorSmoke-filled roomRegistered User regular
Class TraitorSmoke-filled roomRegistered User regular
Most people who know me personally on here know I'm an environmental chemist. My eldest son recently took an interest in my occupation and has been making attempts to impress me with his knowledge of all things science, which warms the cockles of my heart.
He is constantly asking me to do demonstrations for him, which I used to do when I worked as a research assistant at my university. Now, though, I don't have the sort of things I'd need to do something that would be meaningful and put him squarely ahead of his fellow peers. Unfortunately, I live in Texas, though, and I have heard horror stories that owning anything that has ground glass is a one-way ticket to getting your door kicked down.
I'm not wanting to purchase suspicious chemicals like methylamine or pseudoephedrine in bulk, or dangerous things like compounds with nitro functional groups or chloroform. I just want a very basic set of chemistry tools; things like a round bottom flask with a distillation column and thermometer to demonstrate boiling point, or a couple of common salts that will change colors when poured to demonstrate replacement reactions. That kind of thing.
Should I stick to kitchen chemistry? I honestly have no intention to synthesize drugs. If I wanted to do that I have all this stuff at my work laboratory, but I can't (and won't) take company property home, and I rather like not being in jail so I'll stick to harmless things. Like measuring pH!
Basically what I'm asking is if I want my son to get a head start on science, can I actually use good equipment or do I need to use the shitty stuff they sell to everybody at Cracker Barrel to grow your own Sea Monkeys because there's a drug war on?
He is constantly asking me to do demonstrations for him, which I used to do when I worked as a research assistant at my university. Now, though, I don't have the sort of things I'd need to do something that would be meaningful and put him squarely ahead of his fellow peers. Unfortunately, I live in Texas, though, and I have heard horror stories that owning anything that has ground glass is a one-way ticket to getting your door kicked down.
I'm not wanting to purchase suspicious chemicals like methylamine or pseudoephedrine in bulk, or dangerous things like compounds with nitro functional groups or chloroform. I just want a very basic set of chemistry tools; things like a round bottom flask with a distillation column and thermometer to demonstrate boiling point, or a couple of common salts that will change colors when poured to demonstrate replacement reactions. That kind of thing.
Should I stick to kitchen chemistry? I honestly have no intention to synthesize drugs. If I wanted to do that I have all this stuff at my work laboratory, but I can't (and won't) take company property home, and I rather like not being in jail so I'll stick to harmless things. Like measuring pH!
Basically what I'm asking is if I want my son to get a head start on science, can I actually use good equipment or do I need to use the shitty stuff they sell to everybody at Cracker Barrel to grow your own Sea Monkeys because there's a drug war on?
0
Posts
Maybe they can point you to their suppliers and they can tell you precisely what you can and can't buy.
Fisher Science Education
Economic Glassware
If I recall correctly (it was a while ago) I didn't have to enter any credentials to order. I'm sure it's not professional grade, but good enough for K-12 level chemistry. I have to imagine that they would let parents order for home-school / enrichment situations.
I'm not a lawyer, nor do I live in Texas, but I imagine having glassware wouldn't be an issue. As you suggest in your post, I think the type of chemicals you obtain or try to obtain would be a bigger issue.
It's kind of a shame that you can't find chemistry sets anymore. I had one as a kid that would do pretty much everything you described.
Look through science fair project ideas - the basic ones for middle school are safe. The simplest demonstration of chromatography is with markers, paper and an organic solvent. There are some cool biomimicry project sites with ideas there as well
I just want him to be familiar with the glassware/basic safety and procedures by the time he takes chemistry for real
So he can be bored while they explain what an Erlenmeyer flask is
I'd think that if anyone would be able to tell you where the line between "fun science hobby" and "potential meth lab that's going to merit a no-knock warrant at 3am" it'd be the cops.
"It's best for everyone if you just didn't get any of that stuff at all. The law is kind of vague on what can be construed as paraphernalia. What's your name, son? Where do you live?"
Detective of the fucking year right there, folks.
You will be perfectly fine. If the police ever knock on your door and take it as "evidence" just get a receipt and wait it out as it will come back fine.
The police is just being lazy and will say "don't buy this" as it's easier for them.
Satans..... hints.....
As long as any stuff that you could get you in trouble remains far away from it, you will be fine. If they shoot a residual swab on a GCMS and get something they don't like, that's when flag will go up.
Assuming these chemicals are unrelated to the meth "elephant in the room" chemicals I wouldn't worry too much about it. Order from where your work or school did. If you run into a roadblock there then maybe reassess.
Second, document what you are using these for or to put it in a more adorable way, videotape using these with your son. It shows that your "legitimate purpose" isn't just BS and hey, you have cool videos of you doing stuff with your kids. Probably with some reactions that will be hilarious when they're older. Win-win.