Using and installing the program Equil

Purpose of the Program:
     Equilibrium can be a difficult subject because it is hard to
visualize what is occurring at the molecular level as a reversible
reaction at equilibrium proceeds.  This program allows the user to
view equilibrium while it is being achieved.  Le Chatelier's
principle can also be examined by changing the temperature or
concentration of the reaction mixture.  A lab which can be used
with the program is included with the registered copy.

Installing Equil on your hard drive:
     To install equil on your hard drive start windows and
click on File in the upper left hand corner of Program Manager. 
Choose Run from the file menu and type and enter path\install where
path is the location of the equil files.  For example, if the files
are on the root directory of A drive you would enter A:\install. 
Install will create a directory called C:\equil, copy all of the
appropriate files, and create the necessary icons.

Using the Program:
     Click on the icon to start Equil and select New from the
Reaction menu.  Enter the number of molecules of each substance
desired into the boxes provided.  Use the mouse or Tab key to move
around the dialog box.  You may have no more that a total of 80
molecules.  The reaction will then start.
     In the upper left hand corner of the screen you will find the
reaction vessel.   The molecules of A , B , and X will move at
various speeds in a manner similar to that which would occur at the
molecular level during an actual chemical reaction.  The
equilibrium being illustrated is: 
                  A(g)  + B(g) <->  2 X(g)  
This reaction is similar in mechanism to the classic equilibrium
example which occurs between hydrogen and iodine vapor to produce
gaseous hydrogen iodide.  When molecules of A and B collide they
may react to form, two X molecules. (Not all collisions result in
a reaction).  When two X molecules collide they may form an A and
a B molecule.  
     The actual number of molecules of each species can be found
on a table below the reaction vessel.  In the upper right hand
corner a table including the elapsed time since the beginning of
the reaction and the average number of A, B, and X molecules is
presented.  When doing calculations involving equilibrium constants
the average number of molecules gives a more statistically
consistent result form student to student.  Constants will not
match exactly (statistics!!) , but if a class average of all
constants is taken the correlation is very consistent.  
     In the lower right hand corner of the screen there is a graph
which relates the average number of molecules present vs. time. 
The graph shows the student a very clear representation of what is
happening as equilibrium is established.  Every 100 seconds the
graph will be refreshed.

Temperature Item:
     Clicking on this item will allow the user to change the
temperature of the reaction vessel.  The reaction can be run at
25øC or 35øC.  The starting temperature for any new reaction is
25øC.  The temperature may be changed to 35øC by selecting the
desired temperature from the dialog box.  The time will be reset
to zero and the user can see which way the equilibrium will shift
(Le Chatelier's principle) when the temperature is changed.  This
will give an indication as to whether the reaction is endothermic
(absorbs heat) or exothermic (evolves heat).  The temperature can
be reset to 25øC if desired. This option does not work with the
unregistered version of the program. See register.doc for more
information.   

Concentration Item:
     By clicking on Concentration  the user can change the number
of molecules of A, B, and/ or C.  The time will be reset to 0 and
a new graph will be started.  Changing the number of molecules will
allow the user to see  Le Chatelier's principle at the molecular
level.  There can be no more than 80 total molecules. This option
does not work with the unregistered version of the program.  See
register.doc for more information.

Pause Item:
     Clicking on this item freeze the action so that data and
observations can be made.  The reaction may be restarted by using
restart . This option does not work with the unregistered version. 
See register.doc for more information.

Restart Item:
     This item will restart a reaction that has been stopped with 
pause. This option does not work with the unregistered version. 
See register.doc for more information.

Exiting the program:
     To quit the program select this menu item or press Alt-x.

Help can be obtained at any time by clicking on the Help Menu item.

 If you have any problems my E-Mail address is
ALLENT@mail.firn.edu

Timothy J. Allen

DISCLAIMER
----------

THE EQUIL PROGRAM IS SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT
WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.  BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, NO WARRANTY OF
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHOR OF THIS SOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE THIS PROGRAM.
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS' LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES EVER
EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE,
REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF CLAIM. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE
BEARS ALL RISKS AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.