Node Game

Node Game is an interactive tool that helps teach you how to sketch the allowed linear combinations of atomic orbitals (LCAO's) that make up the delocalized molecular orbitals (MO's) for inorganic and organic molecules without having to use group theory. The first part of Node Game consists of a set of six interactive practice exercises that help you develop sketches for the LCAO MO's for H2, H2O, BF3, C5H5-, PF6- and (h5-C5)2Fe. The second part of Node Game consists of Homework Drawingboard; a program that allows you to sketch the permitted LCAO MO's and also the allowed vibrations for molecules possessing a wide range of geometries that you can create on your own.

You will find Node Game to be most useful if you obtain a copy of the textbook that accompanies it. This short text, A Pictorial Approach to Molecular Bonding and Vibrations, by John Verkade of Iowa State University's Chemistry Department, takes you step by step through the development of sketches of the LCAO MO's for examples of inorganic and organic molecules having a great variety of shapes. Included in the examples are polymers and solid state materials. The book, available from Springer Verlag, takes a non-mathematical, highly pictorial approach. All you need to know is a little high school chemistry and some high school geometry!

Downloading Instructions

• Windows 3.1, Windows '95, WindowsNT (needs ~5.0 MB disk space total)
• nodegame.zip, (2.4 MB; If a password is requested, please use your email address.)
• install.bat (If install.bat contents are displayed by your browser and not downloaded, then go to the File menu and save the contents to disk as install.bat.)
• pkunzip.exe (29.3 KB)

Put all three files in an installation directory on your hard drive and follow the installation instructions described in readme.

• nodegame.sea.hqx (3.6MB; If a password is needed, please use your email address.)
• Double-click on the file Node Game in the newly created nodegame folder.

Printing Instructions

To print a window, click on it and then click on the Print icon in the toolbar of the Node Game window. A Print Options Dialog will appear at the right of the window.

Window/Region

You have the option of printing the whole window or just a selected region of the window. After you click on the Print button in the Print Options dialog, the dialog will disappear. If Window was selected, the print process will begin. If Region was selected, you should click and drag in the window to specify the region you want to print.

Color/Grey

On Unix systems, you can select to print either in color or grey scale if your printer allows it. This option is non-functional on Windows and Macintosh systems but can be selected in the printer options dialogs supplied by the printer manufacturer.

Landscape/Portrait

On Unix systems, you can select to print in either orientation. This option is non-functional on Windows and Macintosh systems but can be selected in the printer options dialogs supplied by the printer manufacturer.

Dither

Provides a method to smooth the color image. Non-functional on Windows systems.

Border

If Window is selected, the Border option will print the outer border of the window. If the Border option is off, only the window contents will be printed.

Brightness

On Unix systems, you can control the brightness of the printout. Normal brightness is 100 percent. This option is non-functional on Windows and Macintosh systems.

Filename

If this entry is left blank, the window or region will be printed immediately. If a name is supplied, the print will be stored in a file in a format depending on the system: Windows(BMP), Macintosh(PICT), Unix(PostScript). To print this file on Unix, use the standard print command (e.g. lpr). To print on Windows, double-click on the file. To print on the Macintosh, select the file and then choose the Print option in the filer.

Print

Click to print.

Close

Click to cancel printing.