It's not difficult to begin an amateur hobby in chemistry. There's too much talk these days about banned this or banned that -- yes, there are legitimate security risks in the world, and no, not everyone should be granted access to chemicals that could be potentially hazardous -- especially in bulk. What I'm talking about is a healthy, red-blooded curiosity in old-fashioned chemistry.

Athletics are fine and dandy, but I talking about a bit more academic bite. When I started on my amateur career as a chemist, it was the late eighties and I had a massive flip of hair that covered one eye. One-eyed chemists are a rare breed, and I wouldn't recommend it, no matter how trendy the look. But I started in public school and carried the passion for chemicals with me up through state school and beyond.

It doesn't take a great deal of goodies to get started. All you need is a set of basic chemicals, a good set of lab equipment, some safety equipment, a dedicated workspace that has the proper ventilation, and off you go. Now, I wouldn't recommend you go mixing chemicals willy-nilly. It will take a bit of patience, a little research, and an investment in some basic chemical workbooks, but the end result will be a lifetime of experimentation and illumination.

If you happen to be a parent, you should know nothing bonds kids and parents (forgive the pun) like basic chemistry. This is a great opportunity to help kids learn how to follow direction, weigh and measure, and observe. What happened when you mixed reagent one with compound two? What color did the liquid turn? These are the fundamentals of a solid education.

This doesn't have to be a tremendous output of time or money. You just need the inclination and the right kind of equipment. Like I said, be sure you have a great set of guidebooks and enough ventilation and you're set. Let the mixing, observing, and hypothesizing begin!