Illustrated Periodic Table Upgrade

Paul F. Schatz, John W. Moore, and Jon L. Holmes
Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706

John C. Kotz
Department of Chemistry, SUNNY College at Anent, Anent, NY 13820

Note:
This issue is out of print.

The Illustrated Periodic Table helps students explore a wealth of information about the chemical elements and is now upgraded to support the Periodic Table CD. The program includes the database from KC? Discoverer (1), as well as much additional information in graphic and textual formats. It contains a descriptive hypertext about each element, a search function for finding words in that text, a periodic table navigation tool that allows access to information about any element with a single mouse click, numerical values of macroscopic and atomic-level properties, literature references to the data, a hotlinked glossary of definitions of many terms used in the hypertext, graphic and textual information about crystal structures of the elements, graphic and textual information about many of the scientists who made important discoveries about the elements, and images showing the elements and their uses. Using Microsoft Excel numeric properties from the KC? Discoverer database can be graphed and sorted.

Program Design
Navigation among the elements is never farther away than the periodic table at the upper left of the screen (above). A mouse click on any symbol in the table takes one to the screen for that element. The region at the upper right of the screen contains hypertext and numeric data. Hot words that access visual data are shown in boldface type. Additional hotwords are not boldfaced; these provide definitions from the glossary when clicked.

Numerical data is divided into Physical (macroscopic) and Atomic properties. Each property name is a hot word that presents a definition and reference to the source of the data. For some properties, graphs as a function of atomic number are available. Buttons at the lower center of the screen provide access to other features. The Video button provides access to the reactions of the elements from the Periodic Table CD. The Crystal button presents a three-dimensional computer-generated drawing of the solid-state structure of the current element. A description of the structure, often including hot words, is given in the small box at the bottom right. The Search button opens a dialog box that prompts for a word to be searched for in the hypertext. Once the word is found, the screen automatically shifts to the element the word was used to describe.

Optional Feature
The Chart button (not shown) allows you to generate graphs from the numeric data and to sort these data according to increasing numeric value. Any physical or atomic property can be graphed on either the x or the y axis. Charting is done using Microsoft Excel, which is not supplied with this issue; if you do not have Excel, the Chart button will not appear.

Hardware and Software Requirements

For use with a Macintosh an Apple Macintosh or compatible computer with 68040 or Power Macintosh CPU and at least 8 MB RAM, 256-color monitor (thousands of colors recommended) with at least 640 x 480 pixel resolution, a double speed or faster CD-ROM drive, and System 7 or later are required. Windows users require Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or later or Windows 95 and a compatible computer with an 80486 or higher processor, a minimum of 12 MB of memory, a mouse, 256-color, 640 x 480 or higher Super VGA graphics with a compatible color monitor, and double speed or faster CD-ROM drive.

Literature Cited

  1. Feng, Aw; Moore, J. W.; Harwood, W.; Gayhart, R. KC? Discoverer; J. Chem. Educ.: Software 1988 1B (1). Cabrol, D.; Moore, J. W.; Rittenhouse, R. C. KC? Discoverer with Knowledgeable Counselor; J. Chem. Educ. Software, Special Issue 2, 1992.
First Published: June 1997

Citation: Schatz, P. F.; Moore, J. W.; Holmes, J. L.; Kotz, J. C. . Illustrated Periodic Table Upgrade J. Chem. Educ. Software SP17

Keywords: Lecture Aid; Computer Room; Instructor; High School; General; Analytical; Organic; Inorganic; Physical

Last Updated: April 27, 2001
Created: April 2, 1997 		Created by: S. B. Mathews
Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

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