WHICH SALT?
Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only
Game Type : Chemistry Made Simple Program
Author :
Standalone Release(s) : 1984: WHICH SALT?, Micro Power, £6.95
Compilation Release(s) : None
Stated compatibility : Electron
Actual compatibility : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128
Supplier : MICRO POWER, Northwood House, North Street, LEEDS LS7 2AA
Disc compatibility : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00
Instructions
The program is in the form of a game, which is intended to help familiarise 4th and 5th year pupils with the reactions met in chemical analysis. A compound is randomly selected from twenty-four possibilities and the results of a series of chemical tests are displayed, some of them graphically. Additional tests are available, but using them reduces the student's possible score. He/she then attempts to deduce the
identity of the compound and is awarded a score based on the tests used and number of attempts required. An explanations follows.
The program is suitable both for class and individual use, and a specimen worksheet is provided to allow easy recording of results for later anaylsis. Permission is given for this worksheet to be copied for later use.
Instructions' Source : WHICH SALT? (Micro Power) Back Inlay
Review (Electron User)
This program is designed to be used to help students revising for O level or CSE exams in Chemistry. It provides practice in that well-known bane of chemists known as qualitative analysis.
After loading - a long process, but with no hitches - you are shown a picture of a reagent bottle containing a salt, together with some information on colour and solubility in water.
You are given 100 points to start with as you begin a series of tests. First
comes the flame test, which, like all the rest is shown graphically, but with a
sentence of explanation of well - vital for those with monochrome monitors.
Then you are shown the effect of heat on your salt, with further tests offered
if any gas is evolved. Ten points are lost if any of these tests are needed.
Next you find the effect of adding alkali and ammonia. The final set of tests
are for anions (the non-metal part of your salt). Again points are lost for
using these. It is now assumed that you will know your salt and you check your
result by picking one of the nine cations and one of the seven anions used in
the program. Entering these is done by pressing Space at the correct time, so
there is no chance of poor spelling being a stumbling block.
When you have selected the salt correctly, a summary sheet gives details of the
chemistry of the tests used. You also get a score and a message such as
"Seek help", "Boffin" and "Einstein". A quibble
on these messages is that scoring 100 per cent earns you "Cheat".
My other two criticisms are that the prompt "Press Space to continue"
is forgotten at times, and more seriously that it is not possible to repeat a
test, which can reduce you to wild guessing.
That apart, this is an excellent program. The graphics are tidy and fast, good
use is made of the computer's colour and, thankfully, the program is silent.
It is packaged with details of the chemical knowledge required for the program
and also a single copy of a worksheet which may be photocopied. At £6.95 this
is a very cheap educational program and definitely worth getting for home
revision.
Rog Frost, ELECTRON USER 2. 8