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Article

Production of Numerical Chemical Problems Using a Spreadsheet

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Peter G. Hall

University of Glamorgan, School of Applied Sciences, Mid Glamorgan CF 37 1DL, UNITED KINGDOM

J. Chem. Educ., 1998, 75 (2), p 243

DOI: 10.1021/ed075p243

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 1998

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

The article describes how a spreadsheet can be used together with a word-processing package (the example being based on Excel 5 and Word 6) to produce individual problems for a class of students. The data for the problems are in the spreadsheet, either input as a data base or generated by the software using its random number function. The example described in detail is the creation of "initial rates" problems. In addition to the problems, the spreadsheet is able to produce a table of answers. The Mail Merge property of the word-processing package then allows a large number of different problems to be produced - if required with students names and hand-in dates included. The method is ideally suited to numerical problems in physical chemistry but has been extended to nomenclature problems in polymer chemistry and to the preparation of non-identical practical scripts (an example from polymer chemistry being slightly different di-acid, di-ol combinations in a polymerization reaction).