The chemistry suite of programs is designed to test knowledge of basic facts, and to improve understanding of the underlying principles. The programs cover the following areas: atomic structure and bonding; periodic tables; formulae; chemical deductions; electrolysis; apparatus; acids; bases and salts; and organic chemistry. Several of the programs require the student to complete passages displayed on the screen as in the literature programs, and once again these are offered at 5 levels of difficulty and have a 'cheat' facility. The easier levels do little to test factual knowledge as the words omitted have nothing to do with chemistry, but I suppose the idea is to work up through all the levels so that the information becomes imprinted on the mind.

The Periodic Table program covers this area relatively well, but the next program Formulae and Equations is rather awkward to use, as the entry of correct formulae requires the use of both upper and lower case letters as well as subscript numbers which are located on the graphic keys. Deduce tests the user's overall knowledge of chemistry by supplying clues about a randomly selected substance, while Elect covers electrolysis and ionic equations. Apparatus is an interesting way of giving practice in the selection and assembly of the most usual apparatus for the laboratory preparation of each of 13 gases, with the student finally being required to complete balanced equations. Acids, Bases and Salts comes in three parts: in the first, a descriptive passage has to be completed; part two asks for comments on the proposed reactions, and the third part shows how pH levels change during the acid-base titrations. The final two programs on organic chemistry, contain four descriptive passages for completion at various levels of difficulty, and require the identification of isomers, homologues and compounds.

The chemistry specialist who looked at this suite of programs for me felt sure that it would be reasonably helpful if used with other study methods, but commented that the content at times was rather lightweight and sketchy.

CONTROL KEYS: Apart from the problems in the Chemistry suite, the control keys are clearly explained and are easy to use.
KEYBOARD PLAY: Very responsive
USE of COLOUR: Simple but clear.
GRAPHICS: Used to good effect

SPECTRUM EDUCATION

Mike Edmunds grades a couple of packages for those interested or involved with computers and education.

Sitting in a tiny bedroom you look around and gaze with horror at the mess surrounding you. Pieces of paper with hastily written notes, formulae and jottings cover the carpet and overflow from the wastebasket! A cold sweat beads your brow as the enormity of the task facing you finally sinks in.....!

No, it's not the setting for a new adventure, merely memories of schooldays with examinations looming! Did you, like many others, find the task of revision a daunting prospect? I certainly did and, on more than one occasion, remember rushing to the nearest branch of a certain high street bookseller to search the shelves for those little packets of revision cards!

I doubt that the task of cramming for exams has become any less onerous but at least, in this age of the computer, you can test yourself with a whole range of programs which, to a certain degree, allow more flexibility than a textbook with the added benefit of less pieces of paper!

Letts, the producers of those aforementioned little cards, have also branched out into the software scene and have now introduced a computerised version of their Keyfacts for students of O-Level, GCE, CSE and GCSE Chemistry. At £11.50 the suite of programs is not cheap, but you do get nine programs for your money. The programs have been designed to test your knowledge and to develop your deductive facility.

The suite covers the following areas: Atomic structure and bonding, Periodic tables, Formulae, Chemical deductions, Electrolysis, Apparatus, Acids bases and salts and Organic Chemistry. The programs come on two tapes in a substantial wallet together with a pamphlet outlining the programs and a suggested list of further study aids (including little packs of cards!)

The programs themselves are equally substantial in terms of what they actually contain, but my overall impression is that the package has a rather 'bitty' approach. This is not to denigrate the actual Chemistry content which seems to cover well the areas concerned, it is merely the way that the whole thing has been presented.

The presentation, I suppose, is not that vital when you are only concerned with the facts and exercises, but it seems rather unfortunate, for example, to go to the lengths of a specially designed title screen only to have it disappear after a few seconds while the rest of the program loads to an empty screen, loading time is long enough as it is!

PROGRAMS

However, on to the programs themselves. The first program, Atomic structure and bonding, is one of several that use a comprehension approach to learning. A passage is presented and the user then has to fill in the missing words, much in the style of the standard 'cloze' procedures. Now this is not necessarily a bad approach, but when half of the words have little relevance to the chemical aspect of the passage I can see no reason to adopt this approach. Words such as 'the', 'and' etc. certainly did not test my knowledge of Atomic bonding.

The passage, (there is only one) is subject to five levels of difficulty, the harder the level the more words missing. At the hardest level I can see some point, but at the easiest it tests very little except your eyesight (cyan text on white paper!)

The 'Periodic table' program tests your knowledge of the location in the periodic table of some of the more familiar elements. Alternatively, you can select options which require you to apply your understanding of the electronic configuration of atoms.

'Formulae and equations' requires you to determine reactants and products. You also need to complete equations or organize a selection of chemicals to produce a valid balanced equation. This program is awkward at first, as subscript numbers have been assigned to graphics keys, this is rather fiddly, as are some of the other inputs required, but soon grasped.

'Chemical deductions' tests your overall knowledge of Chemistry by supplying clues about the nature of a substance which has been randomly selected. In 'Electrolysis' a random combination of electrolytes is selected and you are required to identify the ions present, say which electrode they migrate to, identify the preferred reaction at each electrode and compile the ionic equation for each electrode reaction.

'Apparatus' puts you back into the lab selecting the correct apparatus for the preparation of thirteen gases. Your selections are examined and the correct apparatus is drawn. You are then required to provide a balanced equation.

In 'Acids, bases and salts' you have to complete descriptive passages and examine given reactions for validity. You can also see how pH levels change during acid-base titrations.

The 'Organic Chemistry' programs are in two parts, one being the missing word passage, at the end of which the content is represented diagramatically. The second requires you to identify isomers, homologues and compounds with similar reactivity. Chemistry being the complex animal that it is I make no apologies for the descriptions above, these being necessary to give a fair picture of the programs.

As a package this covers almost everything that the exam student is likely to require. Graphics, where applicable, are competent and the complete suite goes a long way to making the subject more approachable and enjoyable. Although competent I feel the overall presentation is lacking in some areas.

There is also a bug which causes one program to crash and obviously needs sorting out! This is not a cheap package, and there are several programs available at present from other companies which do the job equally well, but if you have a need for a revision package then this could go very well with those little packs of cards!

Chemistry,
Letts Keyfacts Revision Software,
Spectrum 48K £11.50
Charles Letts & Co., Diary House, Borough Rd., London SE1 1DW.