4 ms·

> In general, 12 "is old enough to know better" when it comes to tasting the poison and playing with fire. Funny thing is, i got a German chemistry kit as a ki

by ginko 5y ago

> In general, 12 "is old enough to know better" when it comes to tasting the poison and playing with fire. Funny thing is, i got a German chemistry kit as a kid in the 90s and i remember one of the instructions was to taste one of the synthesis products (I believe it was ammonium chloride or nitrate) Looking at the modern version of that particular kit (Kosmos C2000) it doesn’t seem to have changed all that much since then either.

twic 5y ago
The fact that those Kosmos sets are on sale today largely pulls the rug out from under the author's argument. https://www.homesciencetools.com/product/thames-kosmos-chem-c3000-kit/ https://www.homesciencetools.com/product/thames-kosmos-chem-... https://www.brightminds.co.uk/products/chem-lab-c3000-chemistry-set?variant=9280058228778 https://www.brightminds.co.uk/products/chem-lab-c3000-chemis... There is something interesting here, but i think it's far more about parents' and shops' changing attitudes towards risk than regulators'.
- newbie789 5y ago
- linksnapzz 5y ago
  Had the person tried to demonstrate magnetism with some Zen Magnets, they'd have seen the availability determined by CPSC fiat. Which supports their argument. What might've changed chemistry set suppliers' attitude towards risk? Plaintiff's attorneys are not, strictly speaking, "regulators".
- justinclift 5y ago
  The author doesn't mention the country he's talking about, but if it's the US then chemistry kits manufactured overseas don't really count do they? eg they're not US manufacturers, so they wouldn't accept liability That some places in the US are selling chemistry kits overseas... might be a bit risky for the place selling them though. Sounds like they'd be copping the liability instead.
- sliken 5y ago
  Indeed, although when I was a kid parks had play structures that were fun, a challenge, and hint of danger. Getting to the top of a play structure lent a sense of accomplishment. Generally the fear/danger was perceived more than real, but pretty fun/popular up till age 10 or so. In the last 25 years I've seen play structures replaced by the parks I visit were neutered so that even a 2 year old could fully explore, and for that reason only occasionally would there be a 2 year old on them and they were avoided by anyone older.
Delk 5y ago
Back when I was in the approximate equivalent of junior high school, one of the classic experiments done in chemistry was making ammonium chloride, which is used as flavouring in sweets [1] here. It was tasted. As the teachers were responsible and I'm sure they didn't want to take safety risks, I'm inclined to believe it was safe to do. (I can't remember how it was made but I suppose the only risks would be from unclean glassware or contamination by some other substance.) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salty_liquorice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salty_liquorice
watwut 5y ago
Cause that one is safe. And of course, other chemicals are not safe to lick. This set in particular is teaching the 12 years old to lick the weird thing. Nothing wrong with that, but then it is reasonable to expect that the same set does not contain similarly looking/smelling poison.

by ginko 5y ago

twic 5y ago

The fact that those Kosmos sets are on sale today largely pulls the rug out from under the author's argument. https://www.homesciencetools.com/product/thames-kosmos-chem-c3000-kit/ https://www.homesciencetools.com/product/thames-kosmos-chem-... https://www.brightminds.co.uk/products/chem-lab-c3000-chemistry-set?variant=9280058228778 https://www.brightminds.co.uk/products/chem-lab-c3000-chemis... There is something interesting here, but i think it's far more about parents' and shops' changing attitudes towards risk than regulators'.

newbie789 5y ago
linksnapzz 5y ago
Had the person tried to demonstrate magnetism with some Zen Magnets, they'd have seen the availability determined by CPSC fiat. Which supports their argument. What might've changed chemistry set suppliers' attitude towards risk? Plaintiff's attorneys are not, strictly speaking, "regulators".
justinclift 5y ago
The author doesn't mention the country he's talking about, but if it's the US then chemistry kits manufactured overseas don't really count do they? eg they're not US manufacturers, so they wouldn't accept liability That some places in the US are selling chemistry kits overseas... might be a bit risky for the place selling them though. Sounds like they'd be copping the liability instead.
sliken 5y ago
Indeed, although when I was a kid parks had play structures that were fun, a challenge, and hint of danger. Getting to the top of a play structure lent a sense of accomplishment. Generally the fear/danger was perceived more than real, but pretty fun/popular up till age 10 or so. In the last 25 years I've seen play structures replaced by the parks I visit were neutered so that even a 2 year old could fully explore, and for that reason only occasionally would there be a 2 year old on them and they were avoided by anyone older.

Delk 5y ago

Back when I was in the approximate equivalent of junior high school, one of the classic experiments done in chemistry was making ammonium chloride, which is used as flavouring in sweets [1] here. It was tasted. As the teachers were responsible and I'm sure they didn't want to take safety risks, I'm inclined to believe it was safe to do. (I can't remember how it was made but I suppose the only risks would be from unclean glassware or contamination by some other substance.) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salty_liquorice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salty_liquorice

watwut 5y ago

Cause that one is safe. And of course, other chemicals are not safe to lick. This set in particular is teaching the 12 years old to lick the weird thing. Nothing wrong with that, but then it is reasonable to expect that the same set does not contain similarly looking/smelling poison.