Pettus Chemistry Calculator
Information
About the program:
General purpose: The program is designed to allow users to perform many non-graphical computations of general chemistry problems, and chemistry related processes, and to provide an explanation of each process - the program is not be a black box.
What the program does:
It aids the user in solving basic non-graphical problems found in a first year chemistry textbook/class.
What the program does not do:
It does not do graphical problems such as Lewis structures or calculations involving energy or which do not use the substances depicted in the GUI.
Current state and future development:
This is the first version of the web-based program. The intent is to let users see some of the basic processes and calculations that can be done with the program. The developer, me, is neither a computer programmer nor a chemist; so, the initial version is very basic. If there is enough interest in paid versions of the program, a chemistry instructor or chemist, and a programmer will be hired to develop the program to its full potential. Some of the near-term improvements will include calculations of molarity and molality as well as decomposition of compounds such as AlCl3 into AL and CL2 so the program will be able to do complete molecular equations, complete ionic equations, and net ionic equations -- CME, CIE, and NIE. Also, after an equation has been balanced, the user can change a quantity or mole quantity and it will cascade through the rest of the formulas and change all the other moles and mass/volume quantities. Note that full calculated values are displayed. Since the program does not know when the final process has been completed, or the rules a specific user has for determining significant digits, the program does not round numbers. At the top of the form, there is a section that will allow paid users to save a record of the process. At the bottom of the form there is a section that will allow users to add additional information about a process. Both of these sections will be developed if there is sufficient interest and funding. Users are encouraged to critique the program, to provide suggestions for future improvements and to comment on willingness to fund future development with a nominal monthly fee or a donation. Do so by sending comments and suggestions to me at the email address below.
Explore the settings:
If you have preferences, they will be saved if you register
Contact us: grdnpettus@outlook.com
Instructions:
Check out the setting options at the top right corner of the form. Users can set some of the font sizes used on the form. Registered users, even users with free accounts, will be able to save their settings. Not yet, but soon to be implemented!
To get an idea of how to use the program, find the substance frame and select 'element' as the type of substance. Selecting a substance type will fill in the comboboxes below it with formulas and names. Next, select any name. The program will find the associated formula and fill it in the combobox above the name. Filling in the formula will likewise fill in the name. Also, the program will set the substance units to 'grams', fill in the atomic or molecular mass in the quantity field and set the mole quantity to 1 and the units to 'mole'. Now, change the quantity and the mole quantity will change. Change the mole quantity and it will change the mass quantity. Finish by setting the mole quantity back to 1. Now, change the units to 'liters(g). It will access the displayed quantities and units for temperature and pressure and convert them to calculated quantities and units and use the displayed mole quantity to calculate the volume of the gas using the standard gas formulas. Note that the program will allow the user to make mistakes! So, if you select a substance that is a solid at the temperature and pressure displayed, the program will not complain about your mistake. Nest, change the temperature or pressure quantity and the new volume will be calculated and displayed. Note that the only pressure option is 'atm'. Other pressure options will be added soon. After you have completed the above process, try it with another substance. The display and calculations should work for all substances. Also note that when a substance type or specific substance is selected, the form should reset the units and quantities. A current bug is that it doesn't always work. User is encouraged to exlpore and experiment with other 'widgets' on the form but most of the ones outside the substances frames are not yet functional. They are on the form so users can see the potential of the processes that can be performed by the program.
Explanations:
The program is not a black box. When you select a process, a substance, units, etc. or when you input a value, the program will display what you selected or input, any equations and calculations that were performed, and the results. This part of the program is currently being developed.