JOURNRL OF
Chemical € ducation: Software Abstracts for Volume 5A, Number 2 Viscosity of Polymer Solutions Gary L. Bertrand University of Missouri-Rolia Rolla, MO 65401
This program contains three sub-programs: Wensity of Liquids" (I),"Viscosity of Liquids", and "Viscosity of Polymer Solutions". The first is an animated simulation of the determination of the density of 16 liquids (0-5WC) by the buoyancy method. The second simulates the operation of a n Ubbelohde viscometer (water drain times of 20, 60, or 150 s) for the same liquids and temperatures. The animation involves placing the liquid in the viscometer, pumping it up into the measuring bulb, then releasing it for draining in real or accelerated time. The third is not animated, but simulates the preparat i o n of solutions a n d provides numerical results on their bouyancy and drainage times a s they would be measured in the first two experiments. The program operates in the range of 0-5WC with polystyrene in four solvents, poly- L methyl methacrylate in three sol- Ubbelohde viscometer vents, polyisobutylene in two sol- apparatus from "Viscosvents, a n d polyvinyl alcohol i n ityof Polymer Solutions". water. A polymer, solvent, temperature, and sample, which may be a standard of any uumber-average molecular weight from 1-1000 kglmole or of unknown molecular weight, are chosen. (The identities of unknowns can be traced using the instructor's program.) Solutions may be "prepared" individually in volumetric flasks, by addition of weighed amounts of polymer to solvent in the viscometer, or by preparation of a stock solution to be added volumetrically to solvent in the viscometer. Reasonable solubility limits are imposed, though these are not precisely representative of the polymer + solvent + temperature combination. Specific viscosities vary realistically with concentration and temperature relative to whether a "good"or "poor" solvent is chosen, and intrinsic viscosities will generally conform to the Mark-Houwink relationship and the accompanying relationship between number-average a n d viscosity-average molecular weights, deviating progressively a t lower molecular weights.
The Metric System Lynn M. Mason Lubbock Christian University Lubbock. TX 79407
Many high school and beginning chemistry students have trouble converting within the metric system and these drill and practice routines aid these students. 818
Journal of Chemical Education
The topics include length, volume, mass, and temperature conversions that are commonly encountered in chemistry and biology. Each section hag a test over that lesson. All problems are generated a t random and can be repeated indefinitely. There is a final test over all the material. The student can control the pace of the lesson, the number of problems, repeat any section, and quit the lesson a t will. I n the practice sessions the user is given two tries to work a problem before a n answer is given, and help is available except during a test. Each answer is followed by immediate feedback, and a t the end of each section a summary of the results is displayed and is written to disk. An instructor can retrieve these summaries using any word processor that reads a text file.
About This lssue John W. Moore Jon L. Holmes University of WisconsiwMadison Madison. WI 53706
I n addition this issue contains author index files for the J o u r n a l of Chemical Education. When imported into AppleWorks (21, these Journal index files will allow one to easily locate specific articles that have appeared in the Journal for the years 1988 and 1989. Hardware and Software Requirements "Viscosity of Polymer Solutions" and 'The Metric System" require a n Apple IIe with a t least 64K of RAM, an Apple IIc, or a n Apple IIcs. The AppleWorks database temp l a t e for t h e "Journal of Chemical Education Author Index" files requires a n Apple IIe with a t least 128K RAM, a n Apple IIc, or a n Apple IIcs. The size of the index database is, however, limited by the amount of memory available and disk size. The soRware in this issue is pmvided on 5.25-in. disks, therefore a 5.25-in. disk drive is required. A monochrome or color monitor is also required. "Viscosity of Polymer Solutions" disk is DOS 3.3 (3)format. "The Metric System" and and the "Journal of Chemical Education Author Index" files are supplied on ProDOS (4) formatted disks. The "Journal of Chemical Education Author Index" AppleWorks data base template file requires AppleWorks version 2.0 or later. The text files require a word processor for viewing (AppleWorks word processor works fine). To Order This lssue Journal of Chemical Education: Software (often called JCE: Software) is a publication of the Journal of Chemical Education. There is a n Order Form card inserted in this issue. If this card is not available, contact: JCE: Software, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706; 60812625153 (voice), 6081262-0381 (FAX). Literature Cited 1. Bemand, Gary L.'Buoyaney Rogrsms': J. C k r n Edlr:Sofk"ore 1m.1114 (21. 2. AppleWorks. Clsris Corporation, Santa Clara, CA 3. DOS 3.3. Apple Computer, Inc. C U P E ~ CA. O, 4. PmDOS. Apple Computer, h e . Cupertino. CA.
