Sample
1998 Chemistry Software Abstract:
Interactive Electron
Configuration Tool for Chemistry
Multimedia Version
Developed by
Chemistry software packages developed to enhance the
teaching atomic theory are mostly static in nature. Chemistry
is based on: where are the electrons in the atom? and were they are electrons missing.
Biology faculty typically teach the satellite
model of the atom suggested by Bohr in 1913 with electrons orbiting the nucleus
in energy levels. The quantum mechanical
model of the atom rejects the satellite model for a probability model. Electrons are found in sub energies levels
call orbitals starting at the nucleus and occupying
regions of space outside the nucleus. These orbitals
are labeled s, p, d, f;
named after the observed line spectra (sharp, principle, diffuse,
and fine spectra lines). The orbital
model demonstrates that electrons are found in pairs making the easy transition
to the bonding concepts of
electron pairs. The orbital
diagram displays circles or squares with arrows representing electrons. The
arrows are pointing up and down to represent opposite spinning electrons. Chemistry students must be able to place the
electrons in the various orbitals to discover the element’s
bonding characteristic. Using the
orbital model rather than the shorthand model which resembles mathematics (1s22s22p63s23p3
), students have a pictorial concept (although abstract and symbolic) of
the electron building blocks of the atom.
This software has two separate files. The first file (e_confsq.tbk)
allows the student to push a button and the electrons are sequentially filled
and a scrolling window displays the element represented by each electron
arrangement. The filling sequence is
displayed as well as the Hund` Rule of addition (half
filling similar subenergy orbitals
before pairing the electrons in the orbital). Special attention is taken to
show the s-orbital to d-orbital shifting which occurs when there are four or
nine d electrons in periods 4, 5, and 6 of the periodic table. The first screen
demonstrates the first 18 elements (the first three rows of the periodic
table). The next screen demonstrates the
fourth row of the periodic table (elements 19-36). The third screen displays the fifth row of
the periodic table (elements 37-54). The
fourth screen demonstrates the six row of the periodic table, including the 4f orbitals. The
orbital arrangement is then related the to periodic
chart on the final two screens.
The second file (e_confxe.tbk) allows the student
to interact with the orbital diagram by
placing the electrons on the screen by right or left clicking the mouse. Electrons may be removed from the orbitals also by right and left clicking of the mouse. The
student selects an element by highlighting the element in the scrolling text
field. The electrons are added to orbitals by the student, then a button is pushed to check the
graphical objects on the screen.
The product is distributed in runtime files. The software was developed in Asymetrix Toolbook,. The setup of three disks (or one CD) allows the user to run the files on their machines with runtime version of Toolbook. The product is distributed free to schools and individuals who purchase CHEMiCALC through the Chemical Concept Corporation. The electron configuration files, the polyatomic ion files, and electron dot molecular structure files supplement CHEMiCALC. However, with the growing use of the Internet, these products are now deployed on the Internet except they require a plug-in, Neuron, to run.
Since it requires the 9 meg Neuron plug-in to play on the Internet (like Shockwave), HTML/JavaScriptwre used to recreate this software for the Internet in 1999-2000 without a plug-in. The website which is still under Beta testing for the HTML/JavaScript version may be viewed at:
http://www.hccfl.edus/faculty/john_taylor/chm1045/e_config/e-1instruct.html However, many chemistry faculty who use the software prefer the ToolBook version and use it in their labs.
The software developer is the certified trainer for