Chemistry – Let's make it happen!
CLEAPSS provides guidance for teachers, technicians, science advisers and H&S officers on all aspects of practical work. We know that chemistry experiments can cause problems and activities may not 'work' as expected, or provide the effective learning opportunity that’s required. Sometimes, health and safety concerns are raised about the chemicals involved.
CLEAPSS works with suppliers and others to ensure that suitable chemicals and equipment are used in schools and we can also suggest ideas and innovative methods that might help you enhance practical chemistry in your school.
So, if you’re stuck, or need a bit of advice, get in touch by e-mail or 'phone and we'll do our best to help!
Latest news from CLEAPSS..
Hot weather, the storage of chemicals and ventilation
20 Jun 2017
Make sure your stored chemicals are safe in hot weather.
Volatile chemicals (those that evaporate easily) are most at risk. You might detect a stronger smell in the area or notice plastic bottles bulging.
For example, highly flammable liquids and also other non-organic volatiles such as concentrated hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and ammonia might be affected.
• Try to keep the store as cool as possible and don’t put yourself at risk by going in if the level of fumes is higher than usual or you suspect that something has leaked. Use any blinds that are fitted and ensure the ventilation system is working. If the fan is on a time switch, lengthen the ‘on’ periods if possible or keep it switched on all the time.
• ONLY if it is possible to ventilate the store safely, do so. You can then attend to bottles of volatile chemicals to reduce the risks from a build-up of vapours. Wearing personal protective equipment: chemical-protective goggles and gloves, place bottles of volatile chemicals into larger containers with cold water and ice in a working fume cupboard to cool them thoroughly before opening them carefully and allowing fumes to vent. Then close the lids again.
• If you detect problems and there is a risk that fumes have built up, or you are unsure what to do, consider evacuating any areas at risk and contact the CLEAPSS Helpline for advice
Free workshop for Technician Groups
12 Jun 2017
Last summer glassware manufacturer SciLabware ran free workshops for Technician Groups around the country, the aim of which was to help technicians make informed choices when it comes to purchasing glassware and plasticware.
The workshops have been very popular and SciLabware are pleased to announce that they will again be offering these free workshops.
For the latest information, including booking details, please see
here.
Gatsby Practical Work in Science Survey
24 May 2017
Gatsby would like to invite you to participate in a unique and important piece of research into practical work in science in England and Scotland.
We are now into the final year of this exciting three-year national study. Preliminary findings from the first two years of the study are proving extremely interesting, giving a detailed insight into the impact of changes taking place in practical science.
We want to hear from heads of science, science teachers and science technicians from a wide variety of teaching environments to help us develop a greater understanding of what practical work in science means in today’s schools and colleges.
The surveys take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
To thank you for participating, we are offering everyone who fills in the survey a chance to win one of five £100 Amazon gift vouchers in a prize draw at the end of July.
There are three separate surveys that can be accessed at the links below:-
Good news for chickens
18 Apr 2017
In good news for chickens, Defra have updated their guidance for birds.
'All poultry in England are to be allowed outside from Thursday 13 April 2017 following updated evidence on the risk posed by wild birds, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has announced.'
For more details see
here.
Chemistry Resources
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This leaflet is intended to give brief details only of the major manufacturers and suppliers of electronic balances suitable for use in science within secondary schools and colleges.
Outlines the work that science technicians do, the tasks which they should not, ideally, be given, and provides a pointer to the number of technicians needed in a department and to management issues w..
more
This includes all the pictograms required by the Globally Harmonised System for chemical hazard labelling. A selection of large (A4) and small sized pictures for printing and use in schools
Straightforward advice on how to make sure your practical lessons work as you intend. Includes planning and preparing the activity, managing students, timing and equipment, and clearing away. Also inc..
more
Brief risk assessment guidance and experimental notes for a range of practical activities involving monobasic organic acids and their salts (Hazcards 38A, 38B, 38C, 38D).
This
guide is intended for those using, buying, or designing fume cupboards for
schools and colleges. Information is provided on common problems, on choosing
and installing appropriate cupboards an..
more
Brief risk assessment guidance and experimental notes for a range of practical activities involving sulfuric(VI) acid (Hazcard 98A), sulfamic acid and sulfate(VI) salts (Hazcard 98B).
Contains a wealth of information on the various ways of measuring pH, and the advantage and disadvantage os each. Includes all sorts of background theory which will help the reader make the most appro..
more
How to safely insert glass tubing through a rubber stopper
This resource installs macros to automatically insert the new CLP hazard symbols in to Microsoft Word documents and replaces the hazard symbol component of the CLEAPSS font.
Showing results 1 to 10 of 213
