Chemical Education: Software Abstract Evolution of Bonding Theory: The WernerJ#rgensen Controversy Volume IIA, Number 1
courage students to think about the connections between the simulation and modern chemistry and about the process of change in science. With respect to the latter the handout for part one includes a discussion of Thomas Kuhn's portrayal of scientific revolutions (13). 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".
Davld M. Whlsnant Wofford College Spartanburg, SC 29301 This simulation introduces students in beginning chemistry courses to the process by which concepts of molecular structure and bonding developed during the 19th century. I t culminates with the controversv between S o ~ h u Mads s Jdrgensen and Alfred Werner during the period 1893-1907 keeardine the constitution of what have come to be called coordination compounds. The aim of the simulation is to h e l ~students discover that there is more to learn about science than just the theories, facts, and prohlem-solving methods usually presented in classrooms and textbooks; the process of science-how scientific change occurs and how scientists behave--can be very interesting. The simulation is divided into two Darts. The first devel-~~~ ops Berzelius's idea of dualism, the raiical theory of organic comnounds. the breakdown of dualism. and the rise of the coniept of "alence and tetrahedral c&bon. This is done throueh com~uter-simulatedinterviews with Berzelius, ~ o h l l rDumas, , Liebig, Gerhardt, Frankland, and Kekul6. Students are asked to formulate structures using each of the theories 80 that they can better appreciate howthe theories worked and why some ultimately failed as new compuunds were synthesized. This part of the simulation is based upon descriptions of the period 1810-1860 given by the Ihde (1) and others (2-11). In the second part of the simulation students learn ahout the chain theory of Blomstrand and J$rgensen and Werner's coordination theory. They are then challenged to compare the two theories and defend their choice based on simulated experimental data. The comparison is based on conductivity results of Werner and Miolati (126,12c) and on differences in prediction of numbers of isomers (12q 126). The experimental results available change during the simulation-one isomer is not prepared until after students have worked on the comparison for a while. In addition, simulated interviews with JBrgensen and Werner are available to guide the students in their choice of experiments and interpretation. Students are askedto record datain their laboratorvnotebooks and to take notes during the simulation. They are also suoolied . wirh handouts and ouestion sheets that help direct their explorations and provide a means by which their level of success can be evaluated. The questions posed also en~
John W. Moore, Edllor Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti. MI 48197
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About This Issue: Bonding Theory
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Journal of Chemical Education
The simulation resented in this issue covers a ~ e r i o dof nearly 100 years in'the history of theories of chemiial bondineand structure anddoes so in a wav that makes the histon come alive for students. Development of scientific theorie"~ becomes more than just a series of names and dates in a book. The simulation was prompted by an honors project done by a general chemistry student a t Wofford College under theguidance of aphilosophy professor and the author. By allowing students to carry out simulated experiments whose results they must interpret, the program provides an excellent introduction to the scientific method that is similar to earlier programs by David Whisnant such as "Lake Study", "Separations", and "Xenon" (14). Hardware Requlrernents
"Evolution of Bondine Theorv: The Werner Jheensen ~ o n t r o v e r s ~ " r e ~ u i r e s a nlie, ' ~ ~Ilc, ~ l or e IIGS withat least e da 5.25128K RAM and A ~ ~ l e s oin f t ROM.It is s u ~ ~ l i on in. DOS 3.3 disk. Literature Cited
1. ihde, A.J. The Douslopmanl of Modern Chomialry;Douer: Mackie.H. J.Chem.Edue. 1954.31.618.
NeaYork, 1964
2.
bridge, England, 1965. 9. Rus%ell.C.A. ThoHi.LaryofVolew Leieester Univcrsity: Leiaster, England, 1971. 10. Benfey. 0. T. Classics in the Hiatory of Chemical Combination; Dovex: New York,
1964.
12. Keuffman. G.B.. Ed. Clas8ics in Coordination Chemistry; Dover: New York, 1966; Voi. I.Translstionaof artieleineiuding: i s ) Wernor.A.Z.onora Chem. 1893.3.267: i b ) Werner,A.:Miolati, A . 2.Physik. Cham. 1893.12.35: ic) Werner, A,; Mio1sti.A. Z Physik. Chem. 1894,14,506. 13. ~uhn.T. S. he Structure of scientific ~~uolutions. 2nd. ad.: universitv of chieseo: ~hi'cago,1970.
14. Whisnant,D."LaL~Study","BCTC"."Ssparations"."Xenon";PmjsdSERAPHIM, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsibnti, MI 1987: disks APM4, C0804. 1BM4, APM5, iB805, AP808, APM5.
