home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- User's Manual
-
- ChemBalance Wizard 16/32
- Version 1.0
-
- Michael L. Betz
- Jason P. Hupka
-
- June 1997
-
- Copyright 1997
- All rights reserved.
-
-
- Contents:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Using the Program
- 2.1 Preliminary Setup of the Balancing
- 2.1.1 Selecting the Number of Compounds and Ions
- 2.1.2 Setting the Reaction Solution
- 2.1.3 Showing the Results Page
- 2.1.4 Buttons
- 2.2 Entering the Species
- 2.3 Species Analysis
- 2.4 Balanced Equations
- 3. License Agreement
-
-
- 1. Introduction
-
- Michael L. Betz and Jason P. Hupka wrote ChemBalance Wizard 16/32
- for the 1997 ColoradoSchool of Mines Computer Science Field Session.
- Dr. Dean W. Dickerhoof originally developed a similar program in
- QBASIC, but he requested a more user friendly version in a Windows
- format.
-
- ChemBalance Wizard 16/32 calculates balanced chemical equations given
- a set of possible reacting species. The user inputs the number of
- species, type of reacting solution (either neutral, acidic, or basic),
- and the various species. After entering the necessary information, the
- program calculates the balanced equations (if one or more exist) for
- the given set of species.
-
- This program features the Microsoft Wizard format for user interaction.
- This format presents the user with a step-by-step procedure for
- calculating the balanced equation. Only the pertinent information
- is displayed on the screen at any one time. This feature, along with
- the speedy calculation of the balanced equation, makes this an ideal
- program for chemistry students and teachers alike.
-
- The Title Page presents an introduction to the program. From here,
- the user may view information about the program by clicking on the
- About button, or may start the balancing procedure by clicking on
- Begin. At any time the user may exit the program by clicking on Quit.
-
-
- 2. Using the Program
-
- Using ChemBalance Wizard is straightforward, but the following pages
- will present an explanation of each step in balancing a chemical
- equation.
-
-
- 2.1 Preliminary Setup of the Balancing
-
- The properties of the species and their reaction solution are set on
- the Preliminary Setup Page.
-
-
- 2.1.1 Selecting the Number of Compounds and Ions
-
- The program will need to know the total number of species taking part
- in the reaction. This number includes all reactants and all products.
- The maximum number of species a user may enter is 10, and the minimum
- is 2. The user may type in the number, or use the convenient up or
- down arrows to increase or decrease the number. Note that this number
- includes the two species that the program automatically adds when the
- user selects an acidic or basic reaction solution. The default value
- for the number of species is 2.
-
-
- 2.1.2 Setting the Reaction Solution
-
- In this box, the user may select the type of reaction solution. The
- program selects Neutral or Non-Aqueous as the default value, but the
- user may select either Acidic or Basic. If the user selects Acidic,
- the program automatically adds the H+ ion and H2O to the species list.
- If the user selects Basic as the reaction solution, the program
- automatically adds the OH- ion and H2O to the species list. Nothing is
- added for a neutral solution.
-
-
- 2.1.3 Showing the Results Page
-
- If the user would like to see the Species Analysis Results Page before
- the program calculates a balanced equation, a check mark needs to be
- placed in the box next to Show Species Analysis Results. The default
- is no check mark.
-
-
- 2.1.4 Buttons
-
- The Rules button allows the user to view the rules for entering
- chemical species. The Back button will go back to the Title Page, and
- the Next button moves to the Species Entry Page. The Quit button
- allows the user to exit the program.
-
-
- 2.2 Entering the Species
-
- After clicking Next on the Preliminary Setup Page the user can enter
- the various species on this page. The program displays boxes equal to
- the number of compounds and ions the user selected. Only one species
- may be entered in each box.
-
- ChemTip: The Enter key can be used after entering a species to move to
- the next species box. After entering the final species, the Enter key
- will automatically select the Next button.
-
- After entering all of the species click Next to analyze the entered
- species. If one or more of the species boxes turn red, hold the mouse
- cursor over the box to display the problem with that particular
- species. After making the proper corrections, click Next to re-analyze
- the species. Repeat this procedure until no errors occur.
-
-
- 2.3 Species Analysis
-
- On the Species Analysis page, the user may review the results of the
- species analysis. The user may verify if the species were entered
- correctly by looking at each species, the elements the program found
- in each species, and the number of them. Also included on this page
- are the element names and the molecular weight of the species (useful
- for calculating the mass of reactants and products). The Species
- Analysis Page can be accessed after entering the species by selecting
- Show Species Analysis Results on the Preliminary Setup Page, or by
- clicking on the Results button on the Balanced Equations Page.
-
-
- 2.4 Balanced Equations
-
- On the Balanced Equations page the user may view the balanced
- equation(s) if one or more exist. The program will inform the user
- if no balanced equations exist for the given species. From here,
- click on Restart to go back to the Preliminary Setup Page, or click on
- Review to see the Species Analysis Page.
-
- ChemTip: If more than one balanced equation exists, try entering the
- species in a different order. Sometimes the program will find
- alternate balanced equations!
-
-
- 3. License Agreement
-
- Agreement:
-
- ChemBalance Wizard and any accompanying software is being distributed
- as Freeware. It may be freely used, copied and distributed as long as
- it is not sold, and all original files are included, including this
- license. By using this software, you agree to these terms and the
- terms of the Disclaimer below.
-
- Disclaimer:
-
- This software and any support from the authors are provided "as is"
- and without warranty, express or implied. In no event will Michael L.
- Betz, Jason P. Hupka or the Colorado School of Mines be liable for any
- damages, including but not limited to any lost profits, lost savings
- or any incidental or consequential damages, whether resulting from
- impaired or lost data, software or computer failure or any other
- cause, or for any other claim by the user or for any third party
- claim.
-