Chemical Education: Software Abstracts for Volume 6 C, Number 1 Solid State Structures for MacMolecule
Organic Nomenclature David 6.Shaw Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI 53704
Ludwig A. Mayer
San Jose State University San Jose, CA 95192 "Solid State Structures for MacMolecule" (1)pmvides an effective visualization of extended structure solids. Created specifically to simulate and complement models constructed using the ICE Solid State Model Kit (Z), this wllection of 97 image files allows the user to display, rotate, and examine individually a large collection of 3-D structure images. The structures represented by the models and these computer visualizations are useful and effective enhancements for introductory solid-state structure instruction. The collection is divided into three parts: Illustrated Guide Structures, Coordination Geometries, and Complementary Structures. The Illustrated A tetrahedral hole from "Solid State Guide Structures simuMolecules for MacMolecule". late structures presented from each page of the Instruction Manual to Accompany the Solid-state Model Kit"(pp -0) and the "Illustrated Guide to Accompany the Solid-state Model Kit". The images in the Coordination Geometries correspond to those in the "Instruction Manual to Acwmpany the Solid-state Model Kit" (pp 62-71) enhancing them by using techniques that are not possible with the model kit alone. The Complementary Structures emphasize features of selected structures from the illustrated Guide Structures again using techniques not possible with the physical structure models. Each image is accompanied by a text description t h a t provides the name of the structure, the color key for atoms or ions, alternate image form of the structure that can be viewed by selecting the Ball and Stick Model from the MacMolecule Options menu, and a page reference to the appropriate Solid State Model Kit manual. Coordination number 8 as depicted A copy of MacMolecule in "Solid State Structures for version 1.7 is included. MacMolecule".
"Organic Nomenclature" is a drill-and-practice exercise in naming organic compounds (using both common and IUPAC names) and identifying structural formulas. It is based on the same principles and format as "InorganicNomenclature" (3).A Hypercard stack "Organic Nomenclature" consists of multiple-choice questions arranged by functional group (such as ketones) or compound type (such as ring compounds).Aname or structural formula is given, and the correct structural formula or name is chosen from a list of five possible answers. The student can choose to work within a single class of compounds. Choosing alkenes, for example, randomly selects an alkene and displays either its structural formula or its name (common or IUPAC) and five possible answers. Selecting an incorrect answer generates a message explaining why the choice is incorrect. For the compound 2nitro-4-methyl-2-heptene,choosing the answer D (see figure) generates the message, 'The molecule contains fewer carbon atoms than you have indicated with this choice. Please use this information to make another choice." The student can then choose another answer or choose a different example. Once the correct answer has been chosen, a congratulatory message is displayed.
Screen from "OrganicNomenclature". At any time, help screens are available that include pref ~ e and s suffixes, common names (phenyl, n-butyl, etc.), stem names, and basic rules for naming simple organic molecules. In choosing pmblems, the student can select a compound from the current class of compounds (another alkene, for example). This would produce a problem giving either the name of another alkene, or the structural formula for another alkene. Alternatively, the student can choose to work with a different class of compound (ketones, perhaps), or have a question randomly selected from any of the 250 pmblems in any of the 13 categories of compounds included in "Organic Nomenclature". Volume 71 Number 5 May 1994
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