Java Applets for Chemistry

This review is on "The Ideal Atmosphere" (http://www.chem.uci.edu/undergrad/applets/canonical/canonical.htm). I really liked this applet because it's interactive, entertaining, and easy to understand. It is easy to use, doesn't crash, is a great visual, simple and you see immediate results. This applet explains how the atmosphere works to someone who does not understand.

Java Applets For Chemistry is a collection of Java based applets related to chemistry. There is no creator mentioned, but the site was published by Edinformatics. The operating system used while running the site was Microsoft Windows XP Professional. Using the Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox browsers, the site loads without any problems. Similar results were found using Safari and Mac OS X. On the site, located at http://www.edinformatics.com/il/il_chem.htm, the links can be accessed. While the site loads properly, only 32 of the 59 available activities work. The links that do not work are inaccessible due to that the pages cannot be found. But, the links that do function lead to helpful applets.

The presentation makes the links easily accessible and simple to find. Of the links that work, they are helpful and chemistry oriented. But, the links that do not work are not distinguished from the others and users cannot differentiate which links work until trying them. Java Applets for Chemistry is a helpful resource that has good content despite the lack of accessible information. Professors can use the site to help students in the classroom and make labs using the applets. Furthermore, the interactive component in each applet allows for participation and group work among students.