What can I expect to get out of doing this activity?

LOGAL software introduces a new paradigm for educational technology, the highly interactive simulation. Explorations contains four levels of investigation using the Explorer model which emphasizes the use of manipulative tools to change parameters and display data.

Further Reflection
__ Visit the LCK Discussion area again to read more of the dialogue and share your insights and questions.

In this activity you will explore the capacity of LOGAL Chemical Kinetics to visualize:

Enter Explorations from the main menu and select How Collisions Affect Reactions. Start the activity by clicking on the green arrow. Follow the directions provided. You can opt to view text and no sound by clicking on the yellow text button. Starting with Explorations, LOGAL allows you to predict and answer questions onscreen. To save these to review later, click on the button.

You have just stepped through an organized, very structured presentation about how collisions affect reactions. How valid were your predictions and explanations? To review your responses, click on the To Work Window button. Select the Answer Checker at the bottom of the screen. You will be prompted to save your portfolio.

A multimedia package called Logallery will automatically open. Try out some of the tools at the top of the screen.

Logallery not only can be used to review your responses from structured activities. It can also hold student presentations using simulations from the Chemical Kinetics CD. It provides tools for mounting pictures, sound, and movies. Students can draw and design, script the opening of timed pages and display results of their own investigations within the simulation. If you are interested in trying it out, visit the On-Screen Reference found on the home page to learn its full capabilities.

After reviewing your answers and closing the Answer Checker, you will automatically return to the collisions acitivity.

Now it is your turn to investigate in a less structured environment.

1. Click on the Types of Collisions button . Use the Species Tool to change the mass and diameter of molecules A and B. Continue running the simulation while varying molecular properties.

2. Record your results on the pull-down spreadsheet from the top menu. Don't forget to reset the simulation between trials.

3. Graph the data on your spreadsheet by highlighting your data and accessing the Spreadsheet Menu at the top of the screen.

Let's go one step further.

1. Click on the Activation Energy & Collisions button . The Energy Control (at right) shows both activation energy and heat of reaction, depending on which side you move the slider. The Energy Zoom will allow you to manipulate bond energy and bond distance. Investigate the resulting % of effective collisions after manipulating these parameters.

2. Place your results on the spreadsheet.

3. Graph your results from data on your spreadsheet.

We will now begin to explore effective collisions by analyzing the data that you collected.

1) What happened to the % of effective collisions as the mass changed? How did this compare to changing the diameter?

2) What else could change the amount of effective collisions? Does it matter if more of Molecule A is present in the container compared to Molecule B?