I want to get some equipment to do my own experiments. I'd like to get a stand with a very heavy base. Any recommendations? I believe I will do some titrations using NaOH. I may get a pH meter. Any suggestions welcome.

Finals are this week. Thanks for all the help. It made a big difference.

Sheryl

Is this for a home lab or for an experiment at school? And what do you want to prove/disprove/research with the acid/base titration?

I plan on titrating sea water and other waters from different sources at home. I'd like to observe the effects of pH on water. There is some HCl in the garage so I might do a reverse reaction on it as well.

Sheryl

I have found through the years that most suppliers will not sell to individuals although I dealt with only a small number of large suppliers. The Internet may give you a number of smaller suppliers that will sell to you. Go to Google and type in science supplies or something along those lines. I suggest, however, a differect path. Why not ask the department head of your chemistry department if you could use some equipment through the summer. Most state supported schools have rules about such equipment and supplies not leaving the campus; in that case, ask about the use of a room on campus where you could conduct your experiments. Not only will that save you the wear and tear on your pocket book but you will have the resources of faculty who might be willing to offer advice now and then. (And no matter how much you plan, you will find that you need this or that additional equipment/supplies after you made the initial purchase.)The U. S. Geological Survey has a set of procedures for testing water, including highly saline water, and you might want to look into getting a copy of that book. It's a paperback of about 100 pages or so. The library might have a copy or the USGS office in your city/county/state might have a copy. I obtained a copy from a friend who worked for USGS. We were cooperating on a project and he wanted to be sure both of us were using the same procedures. Good luck. By the way, there are a number of mesurements, and pH is one of them, that must be made on some types of water at the time of sampling. Some water sources have dissolved gases which affect the pH and these dissolved gases may escape during standing (even an hour makes a difference).

Thanks. I'll see what I can do.

Sheryl

Great! It's always a good idea to consult with professionals or experts in the field when it comes to experiments and acquiring equipment. Now, let's go over some options for the equipment you mentioned.

For a stand with a heavy base, you can consider purchasing a laboratory support stand. These stands typically have a cast-iron base that provides stability. You can find them in various sizes and configurations, depending on your specific needs. Searching online scientific supply stores or contacting local scientific suppliers should help you find a suitable stand.

When it comes to performing titrations using NaOH, you'll need some essential equipment such as a burette, a pipette, and a flask. A burette is a glass tube with a stopcock at the bottom, used for precise volume measurement and controlled delivery of solutions. A pipette is used for accurately measuring and transferring small volumes of liquids. And a flask, such as a conical flask or Erlenmeyer flask, is commonly used for mixing solutions during titrations.

Regarding the pH meter, there are various options available on the market. You can choose between a portable pH meter or a benchtop pH meter, depending on your requirements. Portable pH meters are more convenient if you plan to work in different locations, while benchtop pH meters are usually more accurate and offer advanced features. Again, doing an online search will give you a range of options to choose from.

Additionally, it's worth mentioning that you might need other supplies like indicators for detecting endpoints in your titrations. Phenolphthalein and bromothymol blue are commonly used indicators for acid-base titrations.

Lastly, as you mentioned testing different water sources, accessing procedures from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) could be helpful. Their guidebook on water testing and analysis, specifically for highly saline water, could provide you with useful techniques to ensure accurate results.

Remember to prioritize safety while performing experiments, especially when handling hazardous materials. If you have any further questions or need assistance during your experimental process, don't hesitate to seek advice from professionals or experienced individuals in the field. Good luck with your experiments, and I hope you achieve successful outcomes!