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Saving Money on IPS Equipment and Laboratory Supplies

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Saving Money on IPS Equipment and Laboratory Supplies

All teachers like the convenience of obtaining all their lab supplies from a single catalog. However, when budgets are tight, there are ways of cutting costs, especially for schools that are implementing IPS for the first time or expanding enrollment in their IPS classes. Here are some concrete suggestions. The equipment and supplies used in IPS can be divided into several categories.

1. IPS-specific materials. These materials were designed for IPS or must meet special IPS requirements. They are best bought from a recommended source.

• Ammeter, 0–1 A • Balance, equal arm • BHT 2, 6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol • Black Box • Bucket, plastic, 5-qt • Bulb, mini-lamp, #13 • Bulb Holder with clip • Burner, alcohol • Burner Stand with screen • Clip, large • Clip, small • Conservation of Mass Set • Copper, fine granular

• Copper Dust, pure electrolytic • Cylinder Set, metal • Electric Charge Set • Electrode, copper, #20 mesh • Electrode, electrolysis • Electrode, stainless steel • Fasteners and Rings • Gram Mass Set • Metal Cube and Slab Set • Microburner, natural gas • Parchment Paper, 12" x 29" • Pegboard Set • Rack, test tube, wood • Rubber Disc (for electrolysis set)

• Sheet, rubber, 12" x 12" • Spectral Analysis Kit • Stirring Rod, glass • Stopper, cork, #7 • Stopper, rubber, 1 hole, #4, safety • Stopper, rubber, 2 hole, #4, safety • Stopper, rubber, 1 hole, #2, safety • Stoppers, rubber, #2, solid • Test Leads, copper, alligator clips, red and black • Tray, black metal • Wick for IPS Burner • Zinc, commercial, 1-cm square

2. Standard materials. Items in this category are probably used in other science classes and may be put out for bids. Items used for only a short period may be borrowed from a physics or chemistry teacher.

• Alcohol, denatured ethyl, 95% • Alcohol, isopropyl, 99% • Balance, electronic, top-loading, 0.01 g sensitivity • Battery Charger, 6/12-V • Beaker, glass, graduated, 100-mL • Beaker, glass, graduated, 250-mL • Boiling Chips • Bottle, polyethylene wash, 500-mL • Brush, test tube • Citric Acid, granular hydrous USP • Copper (II) Acetate, monohydrate • Copper (I) Chloride, anhydrite, reagent • Copper (II) Sulfate, powder • Cylinder, glass, graduated, 50-mL • Cylinder, plastic, graduated, 10-mL

• Dish, evaporating (000), porcelain • Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate) • Filter Paper, Whatman #1, 12.5 cm • Funnel, polypropylene, 55-mL • Geiger Counter • Glycerine • Hand Lens, plastic, tri-lens • Hydrochloric Acid, concentrated, reagent • Limewater, USP • Magnesium ribbon, roll • Microburner, artificial gas • Microburner, natural gas • Mortar and Pestle, ceramic • Nitric Acid, concentrated, reagent • Potassium Chloride, USP • Potassium Dichromate, granular, USP • Potassium Nitrate, granular, USP

• Safety Goggles, adult size • Scoopula • Sodium Carbonate, USP • Sodium Chloride, fine, USP • Sodium Nitrate, granular, purified • Spatula, micro, stainless steel • Spectrum Tube, hydrogen • Spectrum Tube, mercury vapor • Spectrum Tube, neon • Spectrum Tube, power supply • Spectrum Tube, water vapor • Sulfur, powder • Sulfuric Acid, concentrated, reagent • Test Tubes, 20 mm x 150 mm • Test Tubes, 25 mm x 150 mm • Thermometer, lab, –20 to 110 °C • Watch Glass, 6.5-cm diameter • Zinc Sulfate, USP

3. Household items. The items in this category can be obtained at a local supermarket or from home.

• Alka Seltzer • Aluminum Foil, heavy-duty, 18" x 25' • Aluminum Foil, standard weight, 12" x 25' • Baking Soda, 1 lb • Battery, 6-V, screw top • Battery, 1.5-V “D” cell

• Bottle, plastic, clear, 16-oz • Bottle, soda, 2-L • Cement, Duco • Cups, massing, souffle, 20-oz • Cups, Styrofoam, 6-oz • Dice • Hammer, small • Pen, water-soluble, green, red, black

• Razor Blade, single edge • Rubber bands, #10 • Sand, fine, brown, washed • Steel Wool • Sugar, granulated, 1 lb • Tea Bags • Vacuum Cleaner (borrow)