Kidney stones alternative

[sciencefan]

Hello, I am teaching science. many of my students participated in regional fair, few advanced to the State. The one that did not advance are coming with some project ideas. I know, it is early!!!! One of my girls woudl like to do an experiment about kidney stones. What material can we use instead of a reall kidney stone? Thank you.

[deleted-71417]

Hi,

There are a number of different types of kidney stones and each has a different chemical composition. Some are primarily calcium oxalate and phosphate, others ammonium and magnesium phosphate, still others contain uric acid, and some rare ones contain cystine. You could try modeling using crystals of any of these compounds.

http://mens-health.health-cares.net/kid ... sition.php

http://ezinearticles.com/?Understanding ... id=2193781

http://www.tandurust.com/mens-health/co ... tones.html

http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/reprint/7/5/546.pdf

This paper makes reference to use of a standardized plaster kidney stone model for use in testing destruction methods:

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=1499407

Here is a possibly helpful review article:

http://www.nature.com/nrneph/journal/v4 ... h0845.html

This paper offers discussion of models of calcium oxalate stonre formation:

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cac ... fAaOLpGZxA

I think calcium oxalate crystals would be one suggestion you could consider. The last two articles above discuss the formation of kidney stones in the kidney, and should be helpful.

This sounds like it could turn into a really interesting project! Best of luck with it!

best regards,

Barrett L Tomlinson

[sciencefan]

Thank you very much for your reply. Do you know of any source where we can buy calcium oxalate crystals fro using in an experiment. Thank you.

[deleted-71417]

Hi,

You asked where you can buy calcium oxalate. Sigma Aldrich sells it for about $25 for six grams of powder, not crystals. You can also make it yourself by mixing a solution of a soluble calcium salt like calcium chloride or calcium acetate with a solution of oxalic acid. Calcium oxalate hydrate is quite insoluble in water and will either crystalize out or precipitate out of a mixture of oxalic acid and calcium salt solutions very quickly. Oxalic acid costs about ten dollars for 100 grams, and can be purchased from most chemical suppliers. You may also be able to buy it from your local pharmacy, though they might have to special order it for you. I would suggest talking to a chemistry teacher in your school district, as they might have the chemicals you need in their storeroom and be able to sell them to you at their cost..
A chemistry teacher may also be a valuable advisor on this project. If you have to buy from a chemical supplier it may be necessary to place the order through your school, as many firms will not sell chemicals to individuals at residential addresses any more.

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson