/r/homechemistry

Photograph via snooOG

A subreddit for building your own lab at home and doing chemistry in it.

Please try and keep things professional!

I would like to see this site grow into helping one another explore chemistry, since nothing teaches us better than hands on experimentation, but given this is a new subreddit it has the potential to go very bad.

First and foremost, illicit drugs and illegal substances will not be synthesized here. Common reagents that may be controlled I don't mind as much.
Other than that, have fun and help us all out!

Chemicals that may put you on a DEA watch list, pay cash if you can, or synthesize your own.

List of commonly available chemicals thanks to /u/zyks

Search consumer products by chemicals they contain (thx to /u/gfrnk86)

http://www.sciencemadness.org/ Courtesy of /u/MrBurd

Subscripts and Superscripts are in use

Arrows can be copied and pasted from below:

Equilibrium arrow: ā‡Œ

Right arrow: ā†’

Related Subreddits

/r/chemistry

/r/chemicalreactiongifs

/r/homechemistry

12,114 Subscribers

75

Distilling some waste isopropanol

Using the rotovap may have been more practical as Iā€˜m not fractionating anyway, tho I kinda just wanted an excuse to set up a large scale apparatus again xD

5 Comments
2025/01/09
22:39 UTC

8

Does anybody remember The Canadian Chemist youtube channel?

Not very long ago (a few months ago) I discovered an amazing channel called the Canadian chemist who made great videos about how to make different chemicals at home, however now when I look for the channel there's no trace of it, possibly because some of the chemicals he showed in his videos could be dangerous like potassium nitrate and such. The only evidence that I could find of its existence is this image

if you go to the link it brings up a 404 not found page.
if anyone knows what happened to him that would be great.

10 Comments
2025/01/02
00:22 UTC

0

Oldchloroform

Hello i have a chloroform 10years old I have a question IT is still useable? Or its possibile to refresh IT? Like with destilation or a something? Thanks for answers

4 Comments
2024/12/30
16:38 UTC

6

Quickfit apparatus parts 14/23

Made in England Pyrex brand old school glass

Pm me if interested I'm sending from Canada

2 Comments
2024/12/29
00:37 UTC

3

Hydrosol Extraction Solvent

Hello,

I have preformed a steam distillation of cinnamaldehyde out of ground cinnamon, and currently have a high concentration hydrosol (aka the oil dissolved/suspended in water)

I have seen multiple people extract the hydrosol using a solvent such as DCM, but I do not have ready access to this solvent.

Is there a suitable alternative solvent that I can obtain or purchase from a store? Does any solvent that's more dense than water work?

Or is there an alternative process which can breaking the hydrosol?

Thank you.

5 Comments
2024/12/23
23:54 UTC

4

This tutorial on gold recovery gives important details (such as acid concentrations) that are usually overlooked in other tutorials, especially in part II

0 Comments
2024/12/20
16:32 UTC

7

Making a simple lead-acid battery

1 Comment
2024/12/20
12:59 UTC

4

trying to burn the product of these reaction: kno3 plus copper plus acid

looks like the reacting chamber was good, but rraction didn go well. it goes hot but slighgly and the residual was a greenish water solution, with no acid in it. tested with tornasole paper

9 Comments
2024/12/19
22:20 UTC

0

How are compounds found in plants

1 Comment
2024/12/19
04:26 UTC

8

The lava angus chemical:: experimentations

I have procured appeox (66) 67lbs of Lava Angus chemicals for personal use (angus) and whajnot . I have used it in many tests on me and the warren and the angug. Log

Log

Oct- Labva Angus on my meal Oc- Lava Angus walls

today I Have the honor of announcing only 1lb renains of the Angus chemical. What to Do with It ?? Experiment ?? You decide , Pig Busters!

0 Comments
2024/12/18
21:21 UTC

2

Making chloroform at home from household chemicals

5 Comments
2024/12/18
16:44 UTC

28

Time for some hydrogenations

5 Comments
2024/12/17
16:07 UTC

1

What ground glass joint size is best/has the most compatability?

2 Comments
2024/12/14
01:25 UTC

7

For people who live in countries where the access to sulfuric acid is restricted, here is how to make 98% sulfuric acid from household items

3 Comments
2024/12/10
14:52 UTC

1

Looking for sources for Nature career article on at home science

Are you a chemist and do experiments at homeā€“ā€“whether with baking, brewing, or other hobbies? I'm working on a piece about scientists taking work home with them, literally, and would love to hear from you! Feel free to message or email hdocterloeb@gmail.com

0 Comments
2024/12/10
13:31 UTC

9

Worlds biggest barking dog reaction

0 Comments
2024/12/08
09:44 UTC

1

Do you use water or air in your condenser in cold laboratories? Are you concerned about losses?

7 Comments
2024/11/29
20:26 UTC

0

Why did DIY ~50% lidocaine cream stop working and started hurting?

I recklessly stirred 99% lidocaine HCl powder into 4% topical cream, intending to make it 50% strength. It worked great a couple times on a couple consecutive days for surface foot pain (venous ulcers on one foot, maybe heel damage from footwear) and then abruptly did not work at all. Finding out the hard way that I don't know WTF I've been messing with has awakened me to the fact that this is dangerous. I am curious though about the dynamics of this. It seems like the pH being off can do a lot, ranging from not passing into the skin, to skin irritation, maybe to skin damage. I suppose I'm curious whether there's a pH "sweet spot" I missed in order to pass the skin barrier. Yes, because of some pain I'm still tempted to mess with it but no, I'm still keeping my distance. I don't want to let overconfidence or arrogance injure me, including from accidental overdose (yes, lidocaine overdose).

11 Comments
2024/11/29
20:13 UTC

53

Got a kugelrohr for 150 bucks

6 Comments
2024/11/29
15:24 UTC

2

Phase change material ideas

Looking for PCMs that can be heated in kitchen microwave & hold heat 30+ minutes (insulated). Polymer based PCMs. Organic-Inorganic hybrid PCM's. Inexpensive as well. Any help would be appreciated. Must be able to be reheated many times without breaking down.

0 Comments
2024/11/21
01:55 UTC

1

Phase change material ideas

0 Comments
2024/11/21
01:53 UTC

5

Vacuum distillation at home

Hi All,

I want to make a vacuum distillation setup at home. I do have a soxhlet setup so i want to use that glass ware as well for this new setup. I don't know yet, what i need exactly.

Also, what vacuum pressure do i need to make it efficient and to avoid any implosion of the lab ware...
Looked with Amazon at some 'stonylab' equipment is this any good?

Sorry for this post, it's not as clear or detailed as i wished for. But it's a start of my journey into vacuum distillation.

Thanks all

14 Comments
2024/11/16
11:10 UTC

6

Help identifying

Can anybody help me identify this? It came in a lot of glass.

3 Comments
2024/11/13
23:20 UTC

9

Where to sell

Hi everyone. I ended up with a huge lot of lab glassware, more than I could ever use in a lifetime, or for a lot even know how to use. All Pyrexx and Kymex. Flask speakers hanging beakers, condensing flasks, filter flasks, separators, plugs, stands, vials... just a whole bunch of stuff. Where do you think the best place would be to post to try to sell minus the pieces that I needed? What's the best way to even sell this stuff? I called a couple use laboratory equipment people and they don't buy glass because of the shipping and not so much that it's used. I'm in Colorado and I figure there's gotta be a ton of places around here researching psilocybin as well as extracting cannabis, but I don't know where they go to purchase there glassware. Any ideas? Subs I should post in?

17 Comments
2024/11/13
19:54 UTC

3

Glassware ID help

I recently purchased an auction lot of used laboratory glassware. Most of the pieces were straightforward (erlenmeyer, beaker, volumetric, reagent of various size and configuration) but the one in the photos was new to me.

Bottom glass is 150ml and i assume manufactured by Virtis (embossed label). Top cap is plastic with a red rubber flat washer where it meets the bottom glass and a red rubber ring washer in a slip fitting where the upper glass "nipple" connects.

Any insights on name or typical usage appreciated.

P.S. I am generally aware of precautions needed with used glass (acid bath, etc.) but if you have any recommended cleaning protocols I'd appreciate it.

2 Comments
2024/11/11
17:18 UTC

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