Apologia Chemistry: What is microscale chemistry?

Apologia Chemistry program offers an optional MicroChem kit.  What is microchemistry?  Microchem uses small amounts of chemicals and solutions for the experiments.  It's safer and less expensive.  The labs use drops of reagents instead of beakers.  Typically, labs are conducted in reaction plates with pipettes.  What supplies are needed for microscale chemistry?  The basics are reaction plates, syringes, mini test tubes, (borosilicate or Pyrex or Kimex)  pipettes, cassette cases (to hold pipettes), toothpicks (or wood stir sticks), dropper bottles, —even straws cut into tiny scoops, and blister packs from gum.


Here are instructions for a series of microchem experiments.  The instructions indicate how to manipulate the pipettes for different labs.  This UNESCO microscale chemistry lab manua has detailed instructions for complex chemical reactions.  There are different types of pipettes: graduated pipettes, thin stem,  and different sizes, which range from 1 mL to 10 mL.  This article has an image of basic microchem equipment.  Tea candles can heat borosilicate test tubes.  (Buy tea candles at the dollar store.)  You can even perform microscale has chemistry experiments or these or UNESCO Micro-Experiments or these or microscale for primary science.

When you do these labs, there is much less waste to dispose in the trash or down the sink.  Micro scale or small scale labs are cheaper, greener, and safer.