Virtual Chemistry Experiments

Structures of Solids

Topic

Concepts

Experiment

Network
Solids

The distinctions between ionic,
molecular, metallic, and network solids are discussed.

Structures are shown for diamond,
graphite, buckminsterfullerene, and cristobalite (silica) and questions
are asked about the chemical bonding in these solids. Electron density
plots for CO2 and SiO2 are used to illustrate
differences in chemical bonding that produce the radically different
physical properties of these compounds.

Closest-Packed
Structures

The efficient packing of hard
spheres is described. A sequence of interactive images are employed to
illustrate the packing process for hexagonal closest-packed and cubic
closest-packed structures.

Cubic
Closest-Packed Structure

The properties and unit cell of the
cubic closest-packed structure are described.

An animation is provided and the
viewer is asked to determine the number of atoms within the face-centered
cubic unit cell.

Hexagonal
Closest-Packed Structure

The properties and unit cell of the
hexagonal closest-packed structure are described.

An animation is provided and the
viewer is asked to determine the number of atoms within the hexagonal unit
cell.

Holes in
Closest-Packed Structures

The existence and properties of
holes in closest-packed structures are discussed.

Trigonal
Hole

The geometry of a trigonal hole is
described.

A virtual reality representation of
three atoms forming a trigonal hole is presented, and the viewer is asked
to calculate the rhole/r ratio.

Tetrahedral
Hole

The geometry of a tetrahedral hole
is described.

A virtual reality representation of
four atoms forming a tetrahedral hole is presented, and the viewer is
asked to calculate the rhole/r ratio.

Octahedral
Hole

The geometry of an octahedral hole
is described.

A virtual reality representation of
six atoms forming an octahedral hole is presented, and the viewer is asked
to calculate the rhole/r ratio.

Cubic
Hole

The geometry of a cubic hole is
described.

A virtual reality representation of
eight atoms forming a cubic hole is presented, and the viewer is asked to
calculate the rhole/r ratio.

Holes in the
Cubic Closest-Packed Structure

An interactive virtual reality
representation of a cubic closest-packed structure is presented, and the
viewer is asked to determine types of holes present in the structure and
the number of each type in the unit cell.

Holes in the
Hexagonal Closest-Packed Structure

An interactive virtual reality
representation of a hexagonal closest-packed structure is presented, and
the viewer is asked to determine types of holes present in the structure
and the number of each type in the unit cell.

Structure
of Ionic Solids

The factors governing the structure
of ionic solids composed of monatomic ions are discussed.

Ionic Solids

Topic

Concepts

Experiment

Structure
of Ionic Solids

The factors governing the structure
of ionic solids composed of monatomic ions are discussed.

Structure of
Wurtzite

The crystal structure of Wurtzite is
described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of Wurtzite is presented, and the viewer is asked to
examine various properties of the structure.

Structure
of Zinc Blende

The crystal structure of Zinc Blende
is described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of Zinc Blende is presented, and the viewer is asked
to examine various properties of the structure.

Structure of
Rutile

The crystal structure of Rutile is
described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of Rutile is presented, and the viewer is asked to
examine various properties of the structure.

Structure of
Sodium Chloride

The crystal structure of sodium
chloride is described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of sodium chloride is presented, and the viewer is
asked to examine various properties of the structure.

Structure of
Cesium Chloride

The crystal structure of cesium
chloride is described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of cesium chloride is presented, and the viewer is
asked to examine various properties of the structure.

Structure of
Fluorite

The crystal structure of Fluorite is
described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of Fluorite is presented, and the viewer is asked to
examine various properties of the structure.

Unit Cells

Topic

Concepts

Experiment

Simple
Cubic

The geometry of the simple cubic
unit cell is described.

A virtual reality depiction of the
simple cubic unit cell allows the structure of the solid to be visualized.
An animation illustrates the number of atoms contained in the unit
cell.

Body-Centered
Cubic

The geometry of the body-centered
cubic unit cell is described.

A virtual reality depiction of the
body-centered cubic unit cell allows the structure of the solid to be
visualized. An animation illustrates the number of atoms contained in the
unit cell.

Face-Centered
Cubic

The geometry of the face-centered
cubic unit cell is described.

A virtual reality depiction of the
face-centered cubic unit cell allows the structure of the solid to be
visualized. An animation illustrates the number of atoms contained in the
unit cell.

Hexagonal
Closest-Packed Structure

The geometry of the unit cell of the
hexagonal closest-packed structure is described.

A virtual reality depiction of the
hcp unit cell allows the structure of the solid to be visualized. An
animation illustrates the number of atoms contained in the unit
cell.

Structure of
Wurtzite

The crystal structure of Wurtzite is
described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of Wurtzite is presented, and the viewer is asked to
examine various properties of the structure.

Structure
of Zinc Blende

The crystal structure of Zinc Blende
is described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of Zinc Blende is presented, and the viewer is asked
to examine various properties of the structure.

Structure of
Rutile

The crystal structure of Rutile is
described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of Rutile is presented, and the viewer is asked to
examine various properties of the structure.

Structure of
Sodium Chloride

The crystal structure of sodium
chloride is described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of sodium chloride is presented, and the viewer is
asked to examine various properties of the structure.

Structure of
Cesium Chloride

The crystal structure of cesium
chloride is described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of cesium chloride is presented, and the viewer is
asked to examine various properties of the structure.

Structure of
Fluorite

The crystal structure of Fluorite is
described.

A virtual reality representation of
the crystal structure of Fluorite is presented, and the viewer is asked to
examine various properties of the structure.

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© Copyright 2001,2009, David N. Blauch