Chemistry Sets

Chemistry Sets usually came with some test tubes in a stand, some chemicals, various tools like tweezers and spoons, sometimes a little spirit burner, and a booklet telling you what experiments you could perform. They ranged in size from little ones with just a few chemicals, to huge ones with what seemed like dozens of chemicals and all kinds of cool equipment.

Did anyone actually follow the instruction booklet after the first few dull experiments (Oooooh, vinegar turns litmus paper red ;-) I certainly didn't. A spoonful of this, a dash of that... One time I mixed something quite potent. I'd corked the test tube and shook it - next thing I knew, the cork flew out of the tube, and a virulent, electric-blue foam exploded all over the brand new wallpaper. By some miracle, it was washable wallpaper, so I got it cleaned up, and my Mum was none the wiser. I did tell her about it - but not until about 25 years later!

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Michael Johnson

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Do You Remember Chemistry Sets?

RhL on 2013-12-14 19:14:44

I had a basic chemistry set from Merit in the mid to late 1960s, but my favourite was a massive chemistry set from Waddington's. This had lots of chemicals and used sodium bisulphate as a substitute for conc. sulphuric acid, so heating common salt and Sodium bisulphate produced hydrogen chloride which dissolved in water to make hydrochloric acid. This was so exciting!

EvilOrangeBunny on 2011-03-08 01:11:47

It looks like I never grew out of my love of playing with chemistry sets. I spent last summer working in the pharmacy of a local hospital, and my favourite part was definitely compounding - making some of the more complex compounds was just as much fun. To this day, whenever I see chemistry sets in a store, I gaze at them longingly and try to persuade myself that I really, really need one!

neilo67 on 2008-05-29 01:29:03

My sister being the eldest, and presumably the most sensible, was the one who owned the chemistry set and did all the "by the book" stuff. But this didn't stop me from secretly setting light to strips of magnesium in our garage and watching in awe as another ball of white light exploded in a shower of sparks. I was like the sorcerer's apprentice!

khenry on 2007-10-13 15:40:34

I remember having quite a few chemistry sets growing up. It was one of my favorite things to do. I would make all kinds of experiments. My mom was terrified that I was going to blow the house up. We where safe, it never did. Great Times

Anonymous on 2007-02-27 21:48:17

I remember having a chemistry set. For me it lost its appeal after about two weeks - i remember it smelt like horrible copper and it went rusty and i never followed the instructions either. I remember burning myself when i forgot that the test tube was hot after burning it. Maybe i had an advanced one that was too dangerous for me!

Anonymous on 2006-12-30 10:14:38

I had a Salter set for many years. It came with a tape with Johnny Ball explaining how to use it, which I lent to a friend & never got back, along with some of the equipment like the spirit burner. When I had a big clearout I was made to chuck this away, but I managed to save the instructions.