Chemistry, the illegal science?
After reading yet another story about home / amateur chemistry becoming less than welcome from government officials I have to admit I am more than mildly annoyed.
- Underground Science: Chemistry hobbyists face a labyrinth of local and state regulations (Chemical & Engineering News November 10, 2008 Volume 86, Number 45 pp. 38-40)
- Home science under attack - referring to original newspaper report (Worcester Telegram & Gazette News "Chemist allowed to go home, sans his lab" August 9, 2008)
- Don't Try This at Home (Wired 14.06, June 2006) about United Nuclear
So I'll mention some useful forums:
- HomeChemLab created by Bob Thompson, author of related book, Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture
- ScienceMadness (via SSL, note self-signed SSL certificate may make some browser's cranky)
- MadSciNet - not limited to chemistry
- Rogue Science
- APC Forum - Amateur Pyrotechnics & Chemistry forums
References (for amateur/ beginner chemists):
- Readily Available Chemicals - affordable (typically) and readily available sources of chemicals, ~50% of this can be found in either grocery or a hardware store
- Household Chemistry, brief intro from supplies to lab safety
- Concise Chemitry - Prof. Krasnic's chemistry textbooks, chemistry references (contains redundant recommendations, i.e. you don't necessarily need multiple chemistry dictionaries), and chemistry books recommendations are useful for considering when looking to build your personal library but take with a grain of salt.