See, it's funny because chemistry sets used to be a thing. In the early 1900's chemistry sets were sold, hoping to promote scientific exploration among young (admittedly pretty much just) boys.
From a Smithsonian article...
The safety-conscious 1960s brought a quick end to the chemistry set’s popularity. The Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act of 1960 required labels for toxic and dangerous substances, and chemistry set makers removed the alcohol lamps and acids from their kits. The Toy Safety Act of 1969 removed lead paint from toys but also took its toll on the sets. The creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1972 and the passing of the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976 resulted in further limits on the contents of the kits. Newspapers that once broadcast the arrival of new kinds of chemistry sets soon warned of their dangers, recommending that they only be given to older children and kept locked up from their younger siblings. “The death of the chemistry set is almost an unintended consequence of the rise in consumer protection laws,” says Cook.Sadly, it looks like in the world of the webcomic, all chemicals possibly more dangerous than water have been removed from chemistry sets.
More readings about the decline of the chemistry set
- from Philosophy of Science
- from the BBC
- from Wikipedia
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