ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Greeting, sir.! I have a question for you about fire.

I, too, prefer the water version of flame test (I just use wood splints)
to methanol, although I did see a woman from Louisville do a cool, and
very large version with the methanol last fall at ASTC. 

I was talking with her when she brought up a version she'd heard of but
never tried: doing it with sterno. Have you ever used that as the medium
for the metal salts? I haven't attempted it, but I do have the chemicals
to make sterno....

Anyway, I hope all's well with you up in the great northwest. Say hi to
Randall and Matt for me.

-Jonah

"If you hear only one song this year, there's something terribly wrong
with you."
    -They Might Be Giants


-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jake Ashcraft
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 12:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Fire

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****

Hey everyone, 

The OMSI Chemistry Lab also has a flame chemistry experiment in which
visitors take metal wire loops, dip them in water solutions of metal
salts, and place them in a bunsen burner flame. (You can see a picture
and more detailed description of the setup at
http://www.omsi.edu/visit/chemistry/module.cfm?UnitCurrentKey=11&ModuleC
urrentKey=51)

The flame is behind a plastic shield that requires visitors to stretch
their arm out to reach it. In addition, the Chemistry Lab is always
supervised by lab staff, who help to make sure visitors see the flame
and interact with it safely. Visitors just take the loops out of the
test tubes and stick them in the flame, but the experiment has proven
remarkably safe. In my opinion the safest part of the experiment is the
water in the metal salt solutions - so many of these flame tests suggest
using methanol, but water works well and is much safer.

Jake Ashcraft
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry 

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Phillip Keck
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fire


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****

Hello all,

Does anyone have any exhibits, or does anyone have any type of
programming, where visitors directly interact with fire?  I'm thinking
anything like Bunsen burners or any of that stuff.  Did you have any
problems getting approval/permission to do have fire?  Have you had any
problems with safety or anything else?  Any other thoughts?

Thanks,
Phil Keck
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago 

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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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