chemistry experiments for children

How to Cut Glass Tubing.With thesharpedgeofa triangularfile, scratch one
line on the tubing, at the exactpointwhere you wish to cut it. Now place your
thumbson each side of thescratchand break thetubingquickly by forcing it
away from you. Thediameterof thetubingmakes no difference; themethodis
the same.

How to Fire-Polish Glass.The rough edges of glasstubingmake itawkward

to use as well asdangerous.Ifthe edges are very rough, rub them back and

forthon a pieceofwire screening to remove the largest "splinters."Do this

over a pieceofnewspaper. When you have finished, fold the newspaper carefully

andthrowit away. Now light the alcoholburnerand place one endofthetubing

in the blue flame,holdingtheotherend with your hand. The flame will become

brightorange. Rotatethetubingbetween yourthumband forefinger until the

edge in the flame isrounded.Place this end on an asbestos pad until it has cooled

andrepeatthe process on theotherend.CAUTION:Ifyou keep the glass in the

flame for too long, it will melt, the hole will close, and you will have a closed

tubeinsteadofan open one.

How to Bend Glass.Put the flamespreader,or"fishtailtip"over the wick

of your alcoholburner.Holdinga pieceofglasstubinginbothhands, one on

either sideofthe flame,rotatethe glass until the brightorangecolorappears

in the flame. Remove thetubingfrom the flame and bend it quickly to the de-