Let’s compare commercial kits!

 I get it.  You don’t feel all that confident about Chemistry and have already decided to bite the bullet and buy a lab kit.  Let’s compare a few before you order the kit for your course.  I’m hoping you change your mind and just order what you need!

HST’s kit has a lot to offer.  It’s missing a scale.  I prefer a digital scale to a kitchen scale.  I think Sterno is safer than an alcohol burner. 

HST also sells Apologia Chemistry sets.  The first photo is from HST; the second is Apologia’s home site’s version.  Both are missing a test tube rack.  HST has a kitchen scale; Apologia’s set has a digital scale.  Both include safety goggles.  In my experience, kiddos are much more likely to keep safety glasses on their faces than goggles which fog up and are uncomfortable.

Other kits are specific to a program such as Master Books Chemistry Supply kit.  Instead of an alcohol burner, this set has a micro butane burner, spectroscope, multimeter, ring stand, and soil test kits.  This kit also has several chemicals.

Discovering Design with Chemistry and the companion household kit are specific to Dr. Wile’s Chemistey textbook.  Note that the basic lab kit does not have test tubes or a rack. (BTW Discovering Design with Chemistry is written by Dr. Wile.  We’re still using the second edition to Exploring Creation with Chemistey, also written by Dr. Wile.  I haven’t decided what I’ll do in the future.)

Berean Chemistry is missing a test tube rack; it does supply some miscellaneous items such as Alka-Seltzer tablets, copper sulfate, balloons, yeast, steel wool, thumb tacks, etc.

The Novare General Chemistry Lab kit has a ring stand, clamps, and tongs.  There is a pH meter, too.  Missing is a set of test tubes with a rack.

The DIVE Chemistry Lab kit is unusually complete and expensive.  The list of contents likely has any number of unfamiliar materials. The burette clamp fastens to a ring stand and is used for an acid-base titration. (We do a microscale version instead.)  Another item is the Boyle’s Law Apparatus. (We do this microscale application with a plastic pipette.) Below the Boyle’s Law apparatus is a crucible, lid, clay triangle, on an iron ring, all part of the kit, for a hydrate lab. There is a mortar and pestle and calipers.  The kit also has all the chemicals for the programs lab.  Please note that the chemical quantities are small.  Student might struggle to repeat an experiment.

BJU Chemistry Lab Kit is similar to the DIVE set.  Both have molecular models sets, burettes, mortars and pestles, etc.  BJU’s doesn’t include a ring stand, scale or test tube rack.  The chemicals differ.  This set includes a mineral collection and set of steel balls. 

HST has Science Unlocked Chemistry. The kit has all of the materials for the labs.  You’re buying an entire curriculum—not just materials.  

The Abeka Chemistry Lab kit has premium equipment, such as the micro butane burner.  At this price, it should!