SuitabookThe boy chemist
A. Frederick Collins
- Reading
- Read selected sections together rather than attempting activities directly. First identify the scientific idea, then check every material, apparatus and disposal step using modern professional guidance with an attentive, responsible adult; keep hazardous substances and experiments out of unsupervised access.
- Themes
- Hands-on scientific investigation: The book presents practical experiments, chemical reactions, laboratory equipment and techniques, with contextual material and drawings. It appears to treat chemistry as something to investigate through doing, observing and learning concepts such as reaction equations and reduction-oxidation.
- Historical laboratory safety: The described activities include hazardous chemicals, flammable materials, gases, heat, fragile glassware and explosive reactions. The presence of dangerous procedures is clear, but the book’s own evaluative treatment of those dangers, and whether its precautions are adequate, remain uncertain.
- Worth knowing
- Treat the experiments as reading material unless a qualified adult has checked each activity against current safety guidance. Particular attention is warranted around corrosive acids and bases, toxic gases, flammable liquids, reactive metals, heat, pressure and explosions.