Using the program Stoic Learning about stoichiometry can be very difficult for the introductory chemistry student. This program is designed to be a non-threatening device which can provide the student with practice in both balancing chemical equations and solving stoichiometry problems. Students using the program in a computer lab will be presented with the reactions in a different order. Installing stoic on you hard drive. To install stoic on your hard drive click on Start in the lower left hand corner while using Windows 95 and select Run. Type and enter a:install. A directory called c:\stoic will be created and all needed files will be transferred to that directory. Install will also create a Program Group and the appropriate icons. The program is designed for use with Windows 95 or Windows NT. Advantages of registering: When you register (see register.txt) you will receive 13 more reactions for the balancing portion of the lab and 14 more reactions for the stoichiometry section. Registration costs $10 + $2 shipping and handling. This fee entitles you to a site license for the program and a copy of a lab which can be used with the program will be included. Using Stoic: Balancing Chemical Equations: The purpose of this portion of the program is to provide the chemistry student with practice in balancing chemical equations. All major type of reactions will be presented. The unregistered version of the program will present only 2 reactions, the registered version contains 15 different reactions to balance of all types. To start this portion of the program select Balancing Chemical Equations from the Stoichiometry menu or press the F2 key. An equation will appear in the main window. To balance the equation type the number of the coefficient (the number in front of the formula) for each substance in the equation. To move from substance to substance use the TAB key. Make sure the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the arrow. When you believe you have balanced the equation correctly press the enter key. You will be informed if you are correct or incorrect. When all of the equations have been balanced you will be informed. Stoichiometry Problems: The purpose of this portion of the program is to provide the chemistry student with practice in solving various stoichiometry problems. Mass-mass, mass-volume,and volume-volume problems are included. To start this portion of the program select Stoichiometry Problems from the Stoichiometry menu or press the F3 key. A balanced chemical reaction will appear along with a grid below the reaction with entries for mass, moles, and volume(if appropriate). The goal is to fill in every space in the grid by solving for mass, moles, or volume. The way this portion of the program operates is determined by the mode of the program. When the program first starts it is in the automatic mode. In the automatic mode the questions will be generated by the computer and presented on the screen. To solve the problem click on the appropriate conversion factors in the correct order and then enter the answer to 3 significant figures when prompted. For example, 43.8878 would be 43.9, 0.007896 would be 0.00790, and 1234 would be 1230. When the grid is completed the user is informed and can do another reaction by clicking on Next Reaction or quit this portion of the program by clicking on Quit Reactions. To operate in the manual mode click on Mode of the Main Menu and select Manual. A blank grid will be presented. The first thing that must be done is a starting value must be placed onto the grid. To do so click on New Mass, New Moles, New Volume, or Random Value. If you choose new mass, moles, or volume a dialog box will appear asking you for the value you want to input. Enter the value and then click on OK or press enter. You then need to place the value on the grid by choosing the substance you want to assign the value to. To do so click the left mouse button on the formula of the substance in the chemical equation. The value will appear in the appropriate place on the grid. The next step is to choose the starting and ending quantities for your problem. Click the left mouse button on the starting quantity (which is the only value present on the grid if you have just started) and then the right mouse button on the area of the grid you want to solve for. A series of conversion factors will appear below the grid. Click on each conversion factor as you would use it in the correct order to solve for the desired quantity. If the conversion factor is correct it will appear at the bottom of the window next to the starting quantity. If incorrect you will be informed. When you have chosen the correct conversion factors to solve for the desired quantity a dialog box will appear asking you to find the answer. Using a calculator calculate the answer to 3 significant figures and enter into the dialog box. If correct you will be notified. Fill in the remainder of the grid by choosing quantities present on the grid and solving for quantities not determined yet. When the grid is completed you will be informed and a new problem will be given. The unregistered version only has two problems whereas the registered version has 14. Help is available at any time during the program by choosing Index from the Help menu. If you do not know how to use Windows Help choose Using Help from the Help menu. If you have any problems my E-Mail address is ALLENT@mail.firn.edu Timothy J. Allen DISCLAIMER ---------- THE STOIC STOICHIOMETRY 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.