Equipping the Laboratory
From: Hands-On Chemistry ©Prentice Hall
| Chemical | Formula | Source/Description |
| acetic acid | CH3COOH | Vinegars vary between 4-5.5% acetic acid; more concentrated acetic acid (28%) may be purchased at photography supply stores. |
| acetone | CH3COCH3 | Nail polish remover is generally acetone ; fiberglass cleaner is also generally made of acetone and is available at boating supply stores. |
| aluminum | Al | Aluminum foil; aluminum turnings are available as scrap from machine shops. |
| potassium aluminum sulfate | KAl(SO4)212H2O | Alum is available at most drug stores. It is used as an astringent to shrink mucus membranes. |
| ammonia | NH3(aq); NH4OH | Household ammonia (ammonium hydroxide) is an aqueous solution of ammonia. Note: this often has additives. |
| ammonium nitrate | NH4NO3 | Nitrate of ammonia fertilizer is available at most garden supply stores. |
| amylose | (C6H9O5)n | Corn starch is available at most markets and is used extensively in cooking. |
| anthocyanin |  |
Anthocyanin solution can be prepared by cutting, boiling and filtering red cabbage. |
| ascorbic acid | C6H8O6 | Vitamin C tablets sold at the market are primarily ascorbic acid. |
| bromthymol blue | C27H28Br2O5S | Aquarium pH test kits often employ bromthymol blue because it changes color in the 6.0-7.6 range. |
| butane | C4H10 | The lighter fluid in hand-held fire starters or cigarette lighters is usually liquid butane. |
| calcium carbonate | CaCO3 | Chalk, limestone and marble chips are good sources of solid calcium carbonate; some antacids are largely calcium carbonate. |
| calcium chloride | CaCl2 | Much of the road salt (de-icer) used to de-ice roads in cold climates is calcium chloride. |
| calcium hydroxide | Ca(OH)2 | Some antacids are primarily calcium hydroxide; slaked lime is calcium hydroxide and is used in lime-softening water treatment and in plastering. |
| calcium hypochlorite | Ca(ClO)2 | Bleaching powder and some swimming pool disinfectants contain calcium hypochlorite. Available from cleaning or swimming pool supply companies. |
| calcium oxide | CaO | In the past quicklime was a material plasterers used in making plaster. It is now difficult to obtain from hardware stores. |
| carbon | C | Charcoal used in cooking, activated charcoal used in fish tank filters and graphite used in pencil leads are good sources of carbon. |
| carbon dioxide | CO2 | Dry ice is available from party stores, refrigeration supply companies and ice cream companies. |
| carbonic acid | H2CO3 | Soda water is simply carbonated water, a dilute solution of carbonic acid. |
| copper | Cu | Electrical wire, copper pipe, and copper sheeting are available at hardware stores; American pennies (minted 1944-1946, 1962-1982) are 95% copper and 5% zinc. |
| copper sulfate pentahydrate | CuSO45H2O | Basicop or Bluestone algaecide used to kill algae and other aquatic pests contain copper sulfate. |
| ethylene glycol | CH2OHCH2OH | Some engine antifreezes are primarily ethylene glycol. |
| glucose | C6H12O6 | Dextrose (glucose) is available in many drug stores; some specialty throat lozenges are dextrose. |
| glycerol | C3H8O3 | Glycerin is an emollient used to soften skin by delaying the evaporation of water. It is available at most drug stores. |
| gold | Au | Gold jewelry is generally not pure gold. Gold is generally alloyed with other metals to increase strength. |
| helium | He | Helium can be obtained from party stores or wherever helium balloons are available. |
| hydrochloric acid | HCl | Muriatic acid (the common name for HCl) is used in swimming pool maintenance. It is also sold as masonry cleaner and is available at the hardware store. Percentage concentrations vary. |
| hydrogen peroxide | H2O2 | Hydrogen peroxide antiseptic (3%) is available from the drug store. Clairoxide hair bleach by Clairol is much more concentrated and is available from beauty supply stores. |
| iodine | I2 | Tincture of iodine, a topical antiseptic used for treating wounds, is a solution of iodine dissolved in ethyl alcohol. It is available at most drug stores. |
| iron | Fe | Steel wool, iron nails, iron bolts, nuts, screws are good sources of iron. You can get iron filings by dragging a strong magnet through sand. |
| ferric oxide | Fe2O3 | Ceramic rust is used to add a red color to pottery and can be purchased at ceramic stores. |
| kerosene | CnH2n+1 (n=12-16) | Lamp oil or kerosene is sold in the paint departments of most hardware stores. |
| lead | Pb | Lead shot and lead sinkers are used by fishermen and are available at sporting goods stores. |
| magnesium hydroxide | Mg(OH)2 | Milk of Magnesia is an antacid used to settle sour (acidic) stomachs. Some antacid tablets also contain magnesium hydroxide. |
| magnesium silicate | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 | Talcum powder comes from talc, the softest of all minerals, and is used as a dusting powder for babies. It is available in the bodycare section of the drug store. |
| magnesium sulfate | MgSO47H2O | Epsom salt is sold at most drug stores and is used as a laxative or as an anti-inflammatory soak. |
| methanol | CH3OH | Methanol is sold as a solvent in paint supply stores under the names "wood alcohol" or "methyl alcohol." |
| methylene blue | C16H18ClN3S | Methylene blue (Methidote antiseptic) is used to treat small injured fish and is available at pet stores. |
| mineral oil | complex mixture of hydrocarbons | Mineral oil is sold in drug stores as an emollient. Some baby oils are essentially mineral oil and fragrance. |
| nickel | Ni | Pre-1985 Canadian nickels are made of nickel. Note: American "nickels" are composed of 25% nickel and 75% copper. |
| oxygen | O2 | Portable welding oxygen tanks are available at welding shops and some hardware stores. |
| paraffin | CnH2n+2 (n>19) | Candle wax is made of paraffin. Some grocery stores sell paraffin as a sealant for home canning. |
| phenolphthalein | C20H14O4 | Ex-Lax laxative contained phenolphthalein prior to 1997. In that year it was determined phenolphthalein might cause cancer, and the thus the ingredients were changed. |
| phosphoric acid | H3PO4 | Some pH reducers (available at pet stores) used in fish tanks are simply dilute solutions of phosphoric acid. |
| potassium bitartrate | KHC4H4O6 | Cream of tartar is available at the market and is used to stabilize delicate foods like meringue toppings and other baked egg-white products. |
| potassium carbonate | K2CO3 | Some agricultural supply companies sell potash to farmers who need to increase the potassium content in their soils. |
| potassium bromide | KBr | Potassium bromide may be purchased from photography stores where it is used in photographic development. |
| potassium chloride | KCl | Lite Salt is used as a salt substitute by people who must limit their sodium intake, and is available at most markets. |
| potassium iron (ii) hexacyanoferrate(iii) | KFe[Fe(CN)6] | Mrs. Stewart's liquid laundry bluing is used to whiten clothes and may be found in the detergents section of the market. |
| potassium nitrate | KNO3 | Saltpeter or quick salt is used to cure home made sausages and corned beef and may be available at some butcher shops. |
| potassium permanganate | KMnO4 | Clearwater is a solution of approximately 50% potassium permanganate and is used to remove odors and cloudiness from water to be used in aquariums. |
| propane | C3H8 | Gas barbecue fuel is generally made of propane and is available at many gasoline stations or picnic supply stores. |
| 2-propanol | CH3CHOHCH3 | Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) is a concentrated solution (generally 70%) of 2-propanol and may be found in most drug stores. |
| silicon dioxide | SiO2 | Quartz sand is relatively pure silicon dioxide and is available at most building supply stores. |
| silver | Ag | Older non-clad American dimes, quarters, half dollars and silver dollars are 90% silver and 10% copper. |
| sodium acetate | NaC2H3O2 | Re-Heater and other hand-warmers are available at sporting goods stores. |
| sodium bicarbonate | NaHCO3 | Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate and may be found in the baking section of the market. |
| sodium carbonate | Na2CO3 | Washing soda is used to treat wool fibers and is available at spinning, weaving, and art supply stores. |
| sodium chloride | NaCl | The table salt used in cooking is sodium chloride. Iodized salt contains a trace of sodium iodide. |
| sodium hydroxide | NaOH | Known also as caustic soda and lye, sodium hydroxide is used in many commercial drain cleaners. |
| sodium hypochlorite | NaClO | Household bleach is generally a 5% solution of sodium hypochlorite. |
| sodium phosphate | Na3PO4 | Tri-sodium phosphate, commonly known as TSP, is available at hardware stores and is used to clean walls prior to painting. |
| sodium tetraborate decahydrate | Na2B4O710H2O | Borax , such as Twenty Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster is sodium tetraborate decahydrate. |
| sodium thiosulfate | Na2S2O3 | Photographer's hypo is used in photograph development and is available at photography supply stores. |
| sucrose | C12H22O11 | Table sugar is available at grocery stores in large or small bags. |
| sulfur | S | Flowers of sulfur is sold at some garden stores to treat certain plant diseases. |
| sulfuric acid | H2SO4 | Battery acid, also known as oil of vitriol, is sulfuric acid and may be obtained at some auto supply stores. |
| tungsten | W | The filament in incandescent light bulbs is made of tungsten. |
| zinc | Zn | Recent American pennies (1982-present) are 97.5% zinc with a 2.5% copper coating. |