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Links below will allow you to download two versions of a
Windows tutorial that I created to support my introductory/preparatory/basic chemistry text An Introduction to Chemistry
by Mark Bishop. If you are interested in seeing the text,
you can find Acrobat files for both the text and the accompanying study
guide at
http://preparatorychemistry.com/
Except for minor changes in 2000, I completed the software
in 1997, so its appearance is seriously out of date. Despite the antique
appearance, I think it can still be useful. It is an
interactive program that allows chemistry students to practice many of the
basics skills of chemistry, such as chemical nomenclature, balancing
equations, unit conversions, drawing Lewis structures, and much more.
Click here to see a complete list of the sections in the
tutorial. There are hundreds of problems that are often done in steps,
dividing the overall task into parts to provide a model for efficient problem
solving and to help identify the smaller parts of larger problems that might
be giving students trouble. The program provides instant feedback to the user
and contains many links to an extensive help file that provides concise
descriptions of what needs to be done to complete problems successfully.
Click here to see a more specific list of the features of
program.
Because I wrote both the text and the software, they fit together better than
most text-software combinations, but the program can be used with other texts.
There are two versions of the software, one that is more appropriate for basic
introductory courses (courses meant to prepare students for general college
chemistry and courses for non-science and health science majors) and a
version more appropriate for general college chemistry.
The general chemistry version of the program has both more problems and problems
that are at a slightly higher level.
Click here to download the
installation program for the introductory/preparatory/basic chemistry version of the program.
(setup.exe)
Click here to download the
installation program for the general chemistry version of the program.
(setup1A.exe)
After you download the appropriate file, run the installation program to
install the tutorial and its supporting files.
Please email me at
bishopmark@comcast.net to let me know
that you're trying the software. Please tell me the
name of your school and whether you are a student or an instructor.
Click here to open an Adobe Acrobat file of a written tutorial that
accompanies the software.
The following chapter designations correspond to the chapters in my text.
 Chapter 1
Program Description
Chapter 2
Elements and the Periodic Table
Isotopes and Isotope Symbols
Chapter 3
Binary Covalent Nomenclature
Chapter 4
Ionic Nomenclature
Balancing Chemical Equations
Water Solubility of Ionic Compounds
Precipitation Reactions
Chapter 5
Conversion of Formulas to Names
Conversion of Names to Formulas
Acids and Bases
Neutralization Reactions
Chapter 6
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
Chapter 8
Conversion Factors
Calculations and Significant Figures
Unit Conversion Using Dimensional Analysis
Chapter 9
Conversion Factors from Chemical Formulas
Molar Mass Calculations
Chapter 10
Equation Stoichiometry
Chapter 11
Complete Electron Configurations and Orbital Diagrams
Abbreviated Electron Configurations
Chapter 12
Drawing Lewis Structures
Molecular Geometry
Chapter 14
Electronegativity Problems
Molecular Polarity
Types and Strengths of Attractions
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 Program Features
Problems are done in steps, with answers to each step evaluated (to help the
students develop procedures of each task).
There is a tab index for easy chapter and section selection.
There is an extensive help file with several ways to reach it:
from the Help menu
from the Button Bar below the Help menu
from message boxes for incorrect answers
The problem selection pages allow the user to select problems in
any order.
The Page menu in the menu bar allows for easy navigation between sections.
There are sounds to indicate correct and incorrect answers. These can be
turned on and off through the Options menu.
The help file for the program includes a periodic table with information about
each element. This can be called from the Tools menu.
When appropriate, the user can open the Windows calculator from the Tools menu
or an icon on the screen (Chapters 8-10).
Instructions for each section are available when the section is first started and
through the Help menu.
When appropriate, the user has the ability to type subscripts and superscripts
for chemical formulas and scientific notation.
There are responses to correct and incorrect answers (smiling/frowning faces
and sounds).
There are links to relevant sections of the help file from the message boxes
for incorrect answers.
Significant figures, scientific notation, and correct units are evaluated for
each answer for which this is appropriate.
The program includes a formula mass calculator, which is available for
appropriate sections (Chapter 9 and 10).
There is always an option of being given the correct answer for problems that
the user cannot complete.
The program keeps a record of problems completed, problems completed without
errors, problems completed with at least one error, and total percentage of
the parts answered correctly. (This is found on the final report screen
available through the File menu.)
The user can save, open, and print final reports (from the final report screen
available through the File menu).
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