PERT Chart
When first learning chemistry, it is difficult to understand what an atom or a molecule looks like. Being able to create visual representations of chemical structures that are correct enables introductory chemistry students to better understand the underlying principles. Additionally, animations of basic chemical reactions would further their understanding.
(1) Design the tool with a target audience similar to CHEM 105/107 students.
(2) Represent atoms using visual cues (such as shape, size, etc) and maintain a legend to identify the kinds of atoms.
(3) Allow user to combine atoms to produce molecules but only in ways that are accurate (prevent incorrect constructions)
(4) Use lines or another suitable visual cue to connect atoms and represent bonds
(5) Provide a set of pre-constructed molecules
(6) Animate basic chemical reactions by clearly depicting:
a. Initial reactant molecules and final resulting molecules
b. Breaking of initial bonds
c. Forming of new bonds
(7) User should be able to control the speed of the animation, restart the animation, and view, if desired, annotations describing the process.