Where can you buy chemicals?

That Chemist
3 Jan 202425:01
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script explores various avenues for purchasing chemicals, essential for alchemical experiments or scientific research. It humorously highlights the importance of money in acquiring reagents and solvents, then delves into the challenges faced by chemists in sourcing these materials. The script provides a tiered list of suppliers, from accessible giants like Amazon to specialized vendors, discussing their pros and cons, including shipping policies and price points. It emphasizes the significance of equity in chemical access for scientific progress and concludes with tips on saving money and the hidden costs of chemical preparation.

Takeaways
  • πŸ§ͺ The video discusses various places to purchase chemicals for alchemical experiments and scientific research.
  • πŸ’° Money is humorously referred to as the 'true philosopher's stone', highlighting its importance in acquiring chemicals.
  • πŸ”¬ Challenges in buying chemicals include the need for solvents and reagents, and the restrictions some vendors place on shipping to residential or business addresses.
  • 🏒 Some vendors only sell to registered labs, universities, or business addresses, which can limit accessibility for individual chemists.
  • 🌐 The script mentions a wide range of chemical suppliers from different parts of the world, emphasizing the global nature of chemical sourcing.
  • πŸ“¦ Vendors like Amazon and eBay are highlighted for their accessibility, despite sometimes higher prices due to shipping and brokerage fees.
  • πŸ” The importance of knowing the specific names or uses of chemicals is stressed for successful online purchasing.
  • πŸ’‘ The video suggests that understanding the application of chemicals can help in finding them on platforms like Amazon.
  • πŸ›’ The script introduces several lesser-known vendors like Mystic Moments and Bulk Supplements, which offer a variety of chemicals and good shipping policies.
  • πŸ”‘ The video emphasizes 'equity of access' to chemicals as crucial for all individuals to conduct scientific experiments.
  • πŸ“ˆ The tier system presented in the video ranks vendors based on accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and service quality, with 'S tier' being the most recommended.
Q & A
  • What is the main theme of the video script?

    -The main theme of the video script is to guide viewers on where to buy chemicals for various purposes, such as alchemical experiments or scientific research, and to discuss the challenges and options associated with purchasing chemicals.

  • Why does the script mention 'money' as the true philosopher's stone?

    -The script humorously mentions 'money' as the true philosopher's stone to illustrate that money can be used to acquire any chemical needed for experiments, but it also points out the issue of inflation affecting the value of money over time.

  • What are the challenges faced when buying chemicals for experiments?

    -The challenges include finding the right suppliers, ensuring the purity of the chemicals, managing costs, and dealing with shipping restrictions to residential addresses or PO Boxes.

  • Why is Amazon considered an S-tier vendor in the script?

    -Amazon is considered an S-tier vendor because it is highly accessible, offers free shipping with Prime membership, and has no hidden fees for shipping and brokerage, making it a convenient option for purchasing chemicals.

  • What is the issue with purchasing chemicals from eBay according to the script?

    -The issue with eBay is that sellers often add shipping costs to each individual item, which can become expensive when ordering multiple items, unlike Amazon's Prime shipping that offers free shipping on all items.

  • What is the significance of 'equity of access' to chemicals mentioned in the script?

    -Equity of access to chemicals is important to ensure that all individuals or researchers have a fair opportunity to conduct scientific experiments without being disadvantaged due to limited access to chemical suppliers.

  • Why does the script mention that making chemicals is often not as cost-effective as buying them?

    -The script mentions that making chemicals is more time-consuming and laborious than buying them, involving additional unseen costs such as solvents and reagents for purification, which makes purchasing chemicals a more practical choice.

  • What advice does the script give for getting the best deal on chemicals?

    -The script advises viewers to ask for a quote when spending more than a certain amount, such as $100, to potentially receive a discount, and to consider local distributors to avoid brokerage fees at the border.

  • What are some of the vendors mentioned in the script that are not recommended for purchasing chemicals?

    -Vendors such as VWR, Alpha Asar, TCI, Matrix Scientific, and Aatech are mentioned as not being recommended due to their high markups and lack of competitive pricing.

  • How does the script differentiate between different tiers of vendors?

    -The script differentiates tiers based on factors such as accessibility, cost, the range of chemicals offered, and the ability to ship to residential addresses or PO Boxes, with S-tier being the most favorable.

Outlines
00:00
πŸ§ͺ Alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone: The True Value of Money

The video script begins with a humorous take on alchemy, suggesting that money is the modern philosopher's stone, as it can be converted into any other chemical. It emphasizes the importance of using money wisely due to inflation and introduces the concept of various chemical suppliers needed for different alchemical experiments. The speaker highlights the necessity of solvents and reagents for conducting experiments and the challenges chemists face in acquiring them, such as the need for specialized solvents and the restrictions some vendors impose on shipping to residential addresses or PO Boxes.

05:01
πŸ›’ Navigating the Marketplace for Chemicals: Vendors and Accessibility

This paragraph delves into the main challenges and considerations when purchasing chemicals for experiments. It discusses the importance of having a reliable supply chain and the need for a wide range of solvents and reagents. The speaker shares personal experiences from working in research labs and the importance of equity in access to chemicals for scientific progress. The paragraph also introduces the concept of a tier list for vendors based on accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and service quality, with a focus on those that ship to residential addresses and PO Boxes.

10:01
🏬 Exploring Accessible Chemical Suppliers: From Amazon to eBay

The speaker provides an overview of accessible chemical suppliers, starting with Amazon, which offers convenience and potential savings for Prime members despite higher prices. The paragraph also covers eBay, which is praised for its willingness to ship almost anything but criticized for its shipping fees on individual items. The speaker discusses the importance of knowing the common names and applications of chemicals to find them on these platforms and emphasizes the value of these vendors in the tier list due to their accessibility and service to residential addresses.

15:03
🌐 Diverse Vendors for the Modern Chemist: From Mystic Moments to Bulk Supplements

This section highlights a variety of lesser-known but valuable chemical vendors, such as Mystic Moments for ethyl acetate and bulk supplements for amino acids like Proline. The speaker details the benefits of these suppliers, including their wide range of products, reasonable prices, and the convenience of shipping to residential addresses and PO Boxes. The paragraph also discusses the challenges of importing chemicals, such as customs inspections, and the importance of understanding the application of chemicals to find them in various markets.

20:04
πŸ›οΈ Local and International Vendors: A Tiered Approach to Chemical Procurement

The speaker continues the exploration of chemical vendors, discussing local suppliers like XEX Labs and international ones like Onyxmet, which offers competitive prices on metals and other chemicals. The paragraph covers the advantages and disadvantages of various vendors, including their selection, pricing, and shipping policies. It also touches on the importance of equity in access to chemicals and the role of the speaker's personal lab in evaluating vendor options, emphasizing the need for a diverse set of suppliers to meet different chemical needs.

πŸ›‘ Avoiding Overpriced Vendors: Strategies for Saving on Chemicals

The final paragraph offers advice on avoiding overpriced vendors and strategies for saving money when purchasing chemicals. It mentions the importance of requesting price quotes for bulk orders and taking advantage of free shipping from local distributors and online platforms like Amazon. The speaker also discusses the unseen costs involved in chemical preparation and the general preference for buying over making chemicals due to the labor and resources involved. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to subscribe for more helpful content and a wish for a great day.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘Alchemist
An alchemist is a person who practices alchemy, an ancient philosophical and protoscientific tradition for achieving the transmutation of base metals into noble ones, especially gold, and the creation of a legendary elixir for immortality. In the context of the video, the term is used metaphorically to describe someone interested in conducting chemical experiments, particularly in seeking reagents for such practices, like attempting to find the philosopher's stone.
πŸ’‘Reagents
Reagents are substances or mixtures added to a system to cause a chemical reaction or to see how a substance reacts. In the video, reagents are essential for the alchemical experiments being discussed. The script mentions needing various reagents for different types of chemistry, emphasizing their importance in conducting experiments and the challenges of acquiring them.
πŸ’‘Solvent
A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. In chemistry, solvents are crucial for many processes, including the dissolution of reagents. The video script discusses the need for solvents in chemical experiments and the potential difficulty in obtaining specialized solvents from local suppliers.
πŸ’‘Chemical Suppliers
Chemical suppliers are businesses or vendors that provide chemicals for various purposes, including scientific research, industrial processes, and personal experimentation. The video's main theme revolves around identifying and discussing different chemical suppliers and their accessibility, pricing, and the range of chemicals they offer.
πŸ’‘Experiments
Experiments are scientific procedures undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact. The script frequently mentions experiments, especially in the context of needing specific chemicals to conduct them, and the importance of having a supply chain for reagents and solvents.
πŸ’‘Equity of Access
Equity of access refers to the fair and just opportunity for all individuals to access resources or services. In the video, the concept is applied to the availability of chemicals for scientific experiments, emphasizing that everyone should have a fair chance to conduct experiments without being limited by the availability or cost of chemicals.
πŸ’‘Amazon
Amazon is mentioned in the script as an accessible vendor for purchasing chemicals. It is highlighted as an S-tier vendor due to its wide accessibility, despite potentially higher prices, and the advantage of not having to pay for shipping or brokerage fees for Prime members.
πŸ’‘eBay
eBay is an online marketplace that is also discussed as a source for purchasing chemicals. It is considered an S-tier vendor due to its accessibility and the variety of chemicals available, although the script notes the potential issue with added shipping fees for each item purchased.
πŸ’‘Mystic Moments
Mystic Moments is a vendor highlighted in the script for its ability to provide specific reagents like ethyl acetate, which may be difficult to find elsewhere. It is mentioned as an S-tier vendor, offering a range of reagents and the convenience of shipping to various addresses.
πŸ’‘Bulk Supplements
Bulk Supplements is a vendor that is praised in the script for its reasonable prices and the ability to ship to PO boxes and residential addresses. It is considered an S-tier vendor, especially for those needing large quantities of certain chemicals like Proline.
πŸ’‘Sigma Aldrich
Sigma Aldrich is a well-known chemical supplier mentioned in the script. It is not considered an S-tier vendor due to its high markup on chemicals. However, it is acknowledged for its extensive range of chemicals and the potential for discounts through direct communication with a sales representative.
Highlights

The video provides a guide on where to purchase chemicals for alchemical experiments, emphasizing the importance of money as a reagent.

Different chemical suppliers are discussed, catering to various needs of alchemists and highlighting the necessity of a wide range of chemicals.

The challenges of buying chemicals, such as the need for solvents and reagents, and the restrictions some vendors place on shipping to residential addresses or only to registered labs.

Amazon is recommended as an accessible vendor with potential savings through Prime Membership, despite higher chemical prices.

eBay is mentioned as another accessible vendor, with a caveat about high shipping costs on individual items.

Mystic Moments is highlighted as a favorite vendor for specific chemicals like ethyl acetate, and its wide range of reagents.

Bulk Supplements is praised for its reasonable prices and convenience in shipping to residential addresses.

Plastic World is noted for its decent deals on solvents like glacial acetic acid, despite not being an S-tier vendor.

XEX Labs is recognized for its next-day delivery and reasonable prices on a variety of chemicals.

Science Company and Carolina Chemical are mentioned for their ability to ship to PO Boxes and for having a diverse chemical selection.

Onyxmet is commended for its cheap prices on metals and willingness to ship to PO Boxes, despite a lack of organic molecules.

Chemsavers is criticized for high markups but acknowledged for its ability to ship a wide range of chemicals to PO Boxes and residential addresses.

The video discusses the accessibility of chemicals at stores like Home Depot and Canadian Tire, noting their higher prices but convenience.

Etsy is mentioned as an option with high markups and unpredictable availability, but with access to unique chemical options.

US Pigment Corp is highlighted for its extremely cheap prices on metal salts like potassium permanganate and potassium dichromate.

The importance of equity in access to chemicals for scientific experiments is emphasized to ensure fair opportunities for all.

Sigma Aldrich is criticized for high prices and the suggestion to request a price quote for potential discounts is given.

AK Scientific is noted for its good deals on building blocks and large library of chemicals, despite not shipping to residential addresses.

The video concludes by summarizing the various options for purchasing chemicals and the importance of considering factors like shipping, markup, and accessibility.

Transcripts
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