Lifelong Learning Programme

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Teaching Resources

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TEACHING RESOURCES INFORMATION

TITLE OF TEACHING RESOURCE
Molecularium - Simulações em Química Física (Physical Chemistry Simulations)
IMAGE
NAME OF AUTHOR(S)
João Paiva, Victor M.S. Gil, Carlos Fiolhais, Pedro Vieira Alberto, Delfina Almeida, Jorge Gonçalves, Manuel Salgueiro, Susana Fonseca,
Ilídio Martins
DATE OF PRODUCTION
last updated 13/05/2005
WEBSITE OF THE PRODUCT
nautilus.fis.uc.pt/molecularium/
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Web Site/Portal, simulations
LEVEL OF CHEMISTRY KNOWLEDGE
Medium, Advanced
SUBJECT AREA
Fundamental Chemistry, History of Chemistry
TARGET GROUP LEVEL
Upper Secondary School
LANGUAGE/S OF TEACHING RESOURCES
English, Portuguese
TUTORIAL SUPPORT
No
DESCRIPTION
This portal presents several molecular simulations that can be used in Chemistry and Physics teaching. They can be used in upper secondary school and university, adjusting the depth of the interpretation of the phenomena.
The portal is divided in the following sections, available both in English and Portuguese:
- Temperature (a simulation of its effect on water molecules).
- Gas pressure (a simulation of the ideal gas law).
- Intermolecular bonds (two simulations related to polar interactions and instantaneous dipole/induced dipole interactions; videos showing real experiments of mixing compounds with different polarities).
- Entropy and Disorder (a simulation of Maxwell's demon).
- Microwave radiation (a simulation of its effect on water molecules).
- Infrared radiation (a simulation of its effect on water molecules).
- Liquid-vapour equilibrium (ilustrates the equilibrium state between LV phases for water).
- Solid-vapour equilibrium (ilustrates the equilibrium state between SV phases for iodine).
- Dissolution of salts (animation showing some differences in the dissolution process of magnesium sulphate or magnesium carbonate in water).
- Stereoscopic molecular models (e.g. vitamin A, valium, sucrose).
There are two more sections, only available in Portuguese:
- Simulations on the web (a list of similar resources available online).
- History of Thermodynamics (the first, second and third laws of Thermodynamics are described, showing the main contributions of the scientists involved).

The activities presented in this website can be used in the context of a classroom, as a complement to the theoretical concepts presented by the teacher.
COMMENTS
Points of strength
The proposed activities are user friendly.
The theoretical interpretation of the results of the virtual experiments is well supported with information on the portal in the sections Gas pressure and Entropy and Disorder which are very complete.
Most of the portal is available both in Portuguese and English.

Points of weakness
The animations are only available online.
Some of the simulations would benefit from extra tutorial information.

Scientific reliability
The activities presented here (mostly, animations) have been developed by several university researchers and are scientifically reliable.

Pedagogic value
They are interactive and can be used by teachers in the classroom and by students in their individual study.
NAME OF THE REVIEWING ORGANISATION
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança

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National Reports on successful experiences to promote lifelong learning for chemistry The national reports on chemistry successful experiences to promote lifelong learning for chemistry are now available on the related section of the project portal. The reports presents examples of successful experiences in the partner countries and the results of testing of ICT resources with science teachers.

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