Simulations and Interactive Resources, II
John S. Martin University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G2
Note:	Simulations and Interactive Resources has been updated. Please see issue 9B, 2 for information about this update. Series B (MS DOS) software previously included on the General Chemistry Collection CD-ROM is now available for free download by Journal of Chemical Education subscribers. Go to the download page.
Simulations and Interactive Resources (SIRs) are designed to support interactive lectures in introductory chemistry. This second issue of SIRs includes seven new SIRs as well as all previously published SIRs (1) updated to take advantage of an improved programming environment. SIRs provide quick access to computer-generated visual material, ranging from simple illustrations and animations to complete simulations of experiments. They are completely under the instructor's control and use a simple mouse-driven interface. The new SIRs are incorporated into the same menu system as the twelve previously published SIRs; each one is easy to access with a mouse click. Screens have been designed to be readable by all students when projected in a large classroom. The SIRs in this issue are listed by topic below, with new SIRs marked by : Periodic Table and Atomic Structure SIR Periodic: Periodic Table Displays SIR Orbit: Electron Orbits and Orbitals SIR Atomic: Electron Configurations Phase Equilibrium and Gas Laws SIR Torr: Barometers and Manometers SIR Ebullient: Vapor Pressures SIR Ideal: Ideal Gas Behavior Heat Capacity and Thermochemistry SIR Caloric: Heat Capacity, Heat of Reaction SIR Entropy: Atomization, Solution, Expansion Reactions and Chemical Equilibrium SIR Dynamic: Approach to Equilibrium SIR Q: The Law of Chemical Equilibrium Acid Base Equilibrium SIR Titrate: Titration Curves SIR Unknown: Titrating an Unknown Redox and Electrochemistry SIR Polarity: Electrochemical Cells SIR Faraday: Electrolytic Cells SIR Volta: Galvanic Cells Chemical Kinetics SIR Rate: Rate of Reaction SIR Initial: Initial Rate Method SIR Isolate: Isolation of Reagents SIR Sequent: Reaction Mechanisms SIRs are designed to support spontaneous, interactive lectures. Once the computer and a projection system are set up, all the SIRs are directly accessible via an intuitive interface that allows the instructor to think about chemistry, not the computer. You can use this material heads-up, facing the class, not crouched over the keyboard. In SIR Unknown you can titrate an unknown acid or base. After reaching the endpoint as indicated by color change of the solution, you can calculate the molecular weight of the unknown acid. The program checks your work and provides feedback on various aspects of the simulated titration. Numbers hardly ever have to be entered from the keyboard; one simply clicks on any number that appears in white on the screen. The left mouse button increases a number and the right button decreases it. All active options are present on the screen; there are no pulldown menus to search. Onscreen help is always available and is sufficiently comprehensive that one may learn the operation of any SIR from it. Help can be used while preparing for a lecture, to discover what the SIR can do. SIRs do not impose any particular pedagogy, nor interrupt the flow of a lecture. The graphic material goes on the screen whenever you decide it is needed, and may be interrupted when it has served its purpose. Hardware and Software Requirements Programs in Series B of JCE: Software require an IBM PC-compatible microcomputer with 640K RAM, a hard disk, one floppy disk drive, and VGA or better graphics. DOS 5.0 or greater is required. In addition to these requirements, SIRs requires 4.5 MB of hard-disk space and a Microsoft compatible mouse. Effective use of SIRs requires a classroom projection device such as an overhead projector panel or a three-gun projector. A 486 or higher processor is recommended. SIRs will run on 286 or 386 computers but may be noticeably slower. Acknowledgement The Simulations and Interactive Resources project was begun while the author was on sabbatical leave as a 1992-93 CATALYST Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. Some of the work was supported by a grant from the University of Calgary. The author thanks J. W. Moore, J. J. Lagowski, Ed Blackburn, Renee Semien, Frank Jenkins, and Diana Mason for valuable help, advice and criticism. Literature Cited Martin, J. S. SIRs: Simulations and Interactive Resources, J. Chem. Educ.: Software, 1994, 7B, No. 2.

First Published: February 1996

Citation: Martin, J. S. . Simulations and Interactive Resources, II J. Chem. Educ. Software 8B2

Keywords: Lecture Aid; High School; General

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