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<strong>MediaWiki has been installed.</strong>
==FAQ==
 
# What is NOWA-CL?
Consult the [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Help:Contents User's Guide] for information on using the wiki software.
#:There's a video on that question:  {{Vid|url=X}}
 
#:
== Getting started ==
#:NOWA stands for Naturally Occurring Widely Available. The CL stands for Chemical Library. This project is about documenting the technological steps involved in developing a library of chemical compounds that can be made with simple equipment from materials that are naturally occurring and widely available. There's no need to order chemicals from supply houses, or obtain them from over-the-counter products. Once a chemical has been produced in quantity from naturally occurring widely available sources, we add it to our "library". Then we can use that material to produce new materials. The important part is to demonstrate that they can be produced from these sources with minimal equipment: what the chemical industry refers to as "small-scale" or "laboratory" synthesis.<br/>The documentary part of this project will include two main products: the text on this wiki and the videos on YouTube.<br/>
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Configuration_settings Configuration settings list]
# So it's a recipe book where people can learn how to make chemicals?
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:FAQ MediaWiki FAQ]
#: Definitely not. See [[Main_Page#Warning|the warning on our front page]]. Chemistry ''equipment'' can be dangerous by itself. Many materials (including the ones we produce here) are dangerous: toxic, flammable, corrosive, etc. These operations <u>should not be repeated or reproduced</u> except by people who are sufficiently qualified to do the work and handle the materials safely.<br/>
* [https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-announce MediaWiki release mailing list]
# Isn't there a kind of chicken-and-egg problem? What is your equipment made of?
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Localisation#Translation_resources Localise MediaWiki for your language]
#: That's a good point. We assume that the equipment itself (glassware, supports, heat sources, etc) are available at the beginning. The equipment itself may not be naturally occurring, but it's widely available, accessible, and relatively cheap. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that the ''process'' is the important part, not the chemicals you start with. It's the knowledge, not the resources, that enable the science.<br/>
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Combating_spam Learn how to combat spam on your wiki]
# There are already too many wikis out there. Why start a new one?  (aka Why not just put this information in Wikipedia?)
## Aggregating and disseminating this information was the purpose of this project, and wikis are an excellent way to do both of those things, so that part is straightforward.
## Wikipedia is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:What_Wikipedia_is_not ''specifically not''] a textbook, guidebook, or instruction manual. That means it isn't appropriate to build out those entries with much of the data in this wiki. To whatever degree it makes sense for both projects, sharing of data is welcomed and encouraged. '''NB:''' A lot of the numeric data in this wiki comes directly from either Wikipedia or its underlying sources.

Revision as of 14:32, 13 June 2019

FAQ

  1. What is NOWA-CL?
    There's a video on that question: Nowaclvid.gif
    NOWA stands for Naturally Occurring Widely Available. The CL stands for Chemical Library. This project is about documenting the technological steps involved in developing a library of chemical compounds that can be made with simple equipment from materials that are naturally occurring and widely available. There's no need to order chemicals from supply houses, or obtain them from over-the-counter products. Once a chemical has been produced in quantity from naturally occurring widely available sources, we add it to our "library". Then we can use that material to produce new materials. The important part is to demonstrate that they can be produced from these sources with minimal equipment: what the chemical industry refers to as "small-scale" or "laboratory" synthesis.
    The documentary part of this project will include two main products: the text on this wiki and the videos on YouTube.
  2. So it's a recipe book where people can learn how to make chemicals?
    Definitely not. See the warning on our front page. Chemistry equipment can be dangerous by itself. Many materials (including the ones we produce here) are dangerous: toxic, flammable, corrosive, etc. These operations should not be repeated or reproduced except by people who are sufficiently qualified to do the work and handle the materials safely.
  3. Isn't there a kind of chicken-and-egg problem? What is your equipment made of?
    That's a good point. We assume that the equipment itself (glassware, supports, heat sources, etc) are available at the beginning. The equipment itself may not be naturally occurring, but it's widely available, accessible, and relatively cheap. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that the process is the important part, not the chemicals you start with. It's the knowledge, not the resources, that enable the science.
  4. There are already too many wikis out there. Why start a new one? (aka Why not just put this information in Wikipedia?)
    1. Aggregating and disseminating this information was the purpose of this project, and wikis are an excellent way to do both of those things, so that part is straightforward.
    2. Wikipedia is specifically not a textbook, guidebook, or instruction manual. That means it isn't appropriate to build out those entries with much of the data in this wiki. To whatever degree it makes sense for both projects, sharing of data is welcomed and encouraged. NB: A lot of the numeric data in this wiki comes directly from either Wikipedia or its underlying sources.