JCE Software, 1D2: Bonding Theory/Werner-Jorgensen Controversy

Bonding Theory: The Werner-Jorgensen Controversy

David M. Whisnant
Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663

Note:
This program is included in the General Chemistry Collection (SP-16).

To Order General Chemistry Collection

This two-part simulation introduces students in beginning chemistry courses to the process by which concepts of molecular structure and bonding developed during the 19th century. The aim of the simulation is to help students discover that there is more to learn about science than just the theories, facts, and problem-solving methods usually presented in the classroom and textbooks. The process of science - how scientific change occurs and how scientists behave - also can be very interesting.
This program, which originally was written for the Apple II (1), has been extensively revised to run under Microsoft Windows 3.x using ToolBook 1.5. The new version includes not only a story-line that leads students through nearly 100 years of ideas about chemical bonding, but also a hypermedia database that presents extra information about the theories and the chemists who were involved. Hypermedia offers students many paths in which to move around the simulation and gives them a greater sense of exploration than was possible in the older and more linear version. The new version also is much improved visually. One of its goals is to see the development of bonding theory through the eyes of 19th century chemists; the realistic pictures of many of these chemists create an atmosphere that furthers this goal.
The simulation is divided into two parts. The first develops Berzelius's idea of dualism, the radical theory of organic compounds, the breakdown of dualism, and the rise of the concept of valence and tetrahedral carbon. This is done through computer-simulated interviews with Berzelius, Wohler, Dumas, Liebig, Gerhardt, Frankland, and Kekule. Students are asked to formulate structures using each of the theories so that they can better appreciate how the theories worked and why they ultimately failed as new compounds were synthesized. This part is based upon descriptions of the period 1810-1860 given by Ihde (2) and others (3-12).
In the second part of the simulation students learn about the chain theory of Blomstrand and Jorgensen and Werner's coordination theory. They then are challenged to compare the two theories and to defend their choice based upon the conductivity results of Werner and Miolati (13b, 13c) and on differences in the prediction of numbers of isomers (13a, 13b). The experimental results available change during the simulation - one isomer is not prepared until students have worked through the comparison of the two theories. At any time during this part, the students can obtain guidance from Werner and Jorgensen to help them in their choices of interpretation of the data.

Sophus Mads Jorgensen makes a suggestion regarding coordination theory in Bonding Theory: The Werner-Jorgensen Controversy.
The simulation includes pop-up questions that help direct student exploration and provide a means by which their level of success can be evaluated. The questions posed also encourage students to think about the connections between the simulation and modern chemistry and about the process of science. With respect to the latter, one section of the hypermedia database includes a discussion of Thomas Kuhn's portrayal of scientific revolutions (14). The complete simulation provides a hands-on introduction to the methods of science and the behavior of scientists that is far more realistic than most textbook discussions of the "scientific method."
Hardware and Software Requirements
Series D of JCE: Software requires Microsoft Windows version 3.0 or later and associated hardware as defined by Microsoft. We recommend an IBM-PC/AT, PS/2, or compatible computer with a 80386 or higher processor, a minimum of 4 MB of memory, a hard disk, one floppy disk drive to install the software, a mouse, and a Windows-compatible graphics card, such as an IBM VGA or a Super VGA adapter with a compatible color monitor. DOS version 5.0 or later is highly recommended.
Acknowledgement
The author is grateful for the assistance and helpful suggestions of Terry Ferguson. Partial support for this work was provided by the National Science Foundation's Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Program through grant # USE-9151873. The author also thanks the BellSouth Foundation for partial support.
Literature Cited

Whisnant, D. M. J. Chem. Educ.: Software 1989 IIA, No. 1.
Ihde, A. J. The Development of Modern Chemistry; Dover: New York, 1964.
Mackle, H. J. Chem. Educ. 1954, 31, 618.
Kauffman, G. B. J. Chem. Educ. 1972, 49, 813.
Peterson, J. Z. Phys. Chem. 1892, 10, 580.
Moore, F. J. A History of Chemistry; McGraw-Hill: New York, 1939.
Leicester, H. M. The Historical Background of Chemistry; Wiley: New York, 1956.
Findlay, A. A Hundred Years of Chemistry, 3rd ed.; Duckworth: London, 1965.
Palmer, W. G. A History of the Concept of Valency; Cambridge University: Cambridge, England, 1965.
Russell, C. A. The History of Valency; Leicester University: Leicester, England, 1971.
Benfey, O. T. Classics in the History of Chemical Combination; Dover: New York, 1963.
Benfey, O. T. From Vital Force to Structural Formulas; Houghton-Mifflin: Boston, 1964.
Kauffman, G. B., Ed. Classics in Coordination Chemistry; Dover: New York, 1966; Vol. 1. Translations of articles including (a) Werner, A. Z. Anorg. Chem. 1893, 3, 267; (b) Werner, A.; Miolati, A. Z. Phyzik. Chem. 1893, 12, 35; (c) Werner, A.; Miolati, A. Z. Phyzik. Chem. 1894, 14, 506.
Kuhn, T. S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 2nd ed.; University of Chicago: Chicago, 1970.

First Published: January 1994
Citation: Whisnant, D. M. . Bonding Theory: The Werner-Jorgensen Controversy J. Chem. Educ. Software 1D2
Keywords: Lecture Aid; Computer Room; High School; General; Inorganic; History of chemistry; Metal complexes; Structural isomers

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Last Updated: July 19, 2001
Created: December 3, 1996 Created by: J. L. Holmes
Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.



Bonding Theory: The Werner-Jorgensen Controversy
David M. Whisnant Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663

Note:	This program is included in the General Chemistry Collection (SP-16). To Order General Chemistry Collection

This two-part simulation introduces students in beginning chemistry courses to the process by which concepts of molecular structure and bonding developed during the 19th century. The aim of the simulation is to help students discover that there is more to learn about science than just the theories, facts, and problem-solving methods usually presented in the classroom and textbooks. The process of science - how scientific change occurs and how scientists behave - also can be very interesting. This program, which originally was written for the Apple II (1), has been extensively revised to run under Microsoft Windows 3.x using ToolBook 1.5. The new version includes not only a story-line that leads students through nearly 100 years of ideas about chemical bonding, but also a hypermedia database that presents extra information about the theories and the chemists who were involved. Hypermedia offers students many paths in which to move around the simulation and gives them a greater sense of exploration than was possible in the older and more linear version. The new version also is much improved visually. One of its goals is to see the development of bonding theory through the eyes of 19th century chemists; the realistic pictures of many of these chemists create an atmosphere that furthers this goal. The simulation is divided into two parts. The first develops Berzelius's idea of dualism, the radical theory of organic compounds, the breakdown of dualism, and the rise of the concept of valence and tetrahedral carbon. This is done through computer-simulated interviews with Berzelius, Wohler, Dumas, Liebig, Gerhardt, Frankland, and Kekule. Students are asked to formulate structures using each of the theories so that they can better appreciate how the theories worked and why they ultimately failed as new compounds were synthesized. This part is based upon descriptions of the period 1810-1860 given by Ihde (2) and others (3-12). In the second part of the simulation students learn about the chain theory of Blomstrand and Jorgensen and Werner's coordination theory. They then are challenged to compare the two theories and to defend their choice based upon the conductivity results of Werner and Miolati (13b, 13c) and on differences in the prediction of numbers of isomers (13a, 13b). The experimental results available change during the simulation - one isomer is not prepared until students have worked through the comparison of the two theories. At any time during this part, the students can obtain guidance from Werner and Jorgensen to help them in their choices of interpretation of the data. Sophus Mads Jorgensen makes a suggestion regarding coordination theory in Bonding Theory: The Werner-Jorgensen Controversy. The simulation includes pop-up questions that help direct student exploration and provide a means by which their level of success can be evaluated. The questions posed also encourage students to think about the connections between the simulation and modern chemistry and about the process of science. With respect to the latter, one section of the hypermedia database includes a discussion of Thomas Kuhn's portrayal of scientific revolutions (14). The complete simulation provides a hands-on introduction to the methods of science and the behavior of scientists that is far more realistic than most textbook discussions of the "scientific method." Hardware and Software Requirements Series D of JCE: Software requires Microsoft Windows version 3.0 or later and associated hardware as defined by Microsoft. We recommend an IBM-PC/AT, PS/2, or compatible computer with a 80386 or higher processor, a minimum of 4 MB of memory, a hard disk, one floppy disk drive to install the software, a mouse, and a Windows-compatible graphics card, such as an IBM VGA or a Super VGA adapter with a compatible color monitor. DOS version 5.0 or later is highly recommended. Acknowledgement The author is grateful for the assistance and helpful suggestions of Terry Ferguson. Partial support for this work was provided by the National Science Foundation's Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Program through grant # USE-9151873. The author also thanks the BellSouth Foundation for partial support. Literature Cited Whisnant, D. M. J. Chem. Educ.: Software 1989 IIA, No. 1. Ihde, A. J. The Development of Modern Chemistry; Dover: New York, 1964. Mackle, H. J. Chem. Educ. 1954, 31, 618. Kauffman, G. B. J. Chem. Educ. 1972, 49, 813. Peterson, J. Z. Phys. Chem. 1892, 10, 580. Moore, F. J. A History of Chemistry; McGraw-Hill: New York, 1939. Leicester, H. M. The Historical Background of Chemistry; Wiley: New York, 1956. Findlay, A. A Hundred Years of Chemistry, 3rd ed.; Duckworth: London, 1965. Palmer, W. G. A History of the Concept of Valency; Cambridge University: Cambridge, England, 1965. Russell, C. A. The History of Valency; Leicester University: Leicester, England, 1971. Benfey, O. T. Classics in the History of Chemical Combination; Dover: New York, 1963. Benfey, O. T. From Vital Force to Structural Formulas; Houghton-Mifflin: Boston, 1964. Kauffman, G. B., Ed. Classics in Coordination Chemistry; Dover: New York, 1966; Vol. 1. Translations of articles including (a) Werner, A. Z. Anorg. Chem. 1893, 3, 267; (b) Werner, A.; Miolati, A. Z. Phyzik. Chem. 1893, 12, 35; (c) Werner, A.; Miolati, A. Z. Phyzik. Chem. 1894, 14, 506. Kuhn, T. S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 2nd ed.; University of Chicago: Chicago, 1970.


News \| Issues \| CD-ROM / Video \| Find It! \| Technical Support \| For Authors
JCE Online \| Journal \| Software \| Internet \| Happenings \| About JCE \| Contact JCE

Last Updated: July 19, 2001 Created: December 3, 1996	Created by: J. L. Holmes Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.