Repository: Simulations and Models for Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jason Kahn, University of Maryland College Park
Excel spreadsheets, Matlab programs, and interactive browser simulations for modeling simple chemical and biochemical principles.
Interactive browser simulations (done in collaboration with Claude, with coding by Claude)
- The Einstein model for a solid. This is to explain the concept, not do real analysis.
- A → B → C kinetics. Watch the intermediate B rise and fall as the rate constants change, and see when the steady-state approximation for B holds.
- Distinguishing reactant orders. (At least among 0, 1, and 2.)
- The behavior of the Arrhenius equation. See how the rate constant and half-life depend on temperature, activation energy, and the pre-exponential factor, for first- and second-order reactions.
- Demo of Le Chatelier's principle and Q going to K. Perturb the equilibrium 2A ⇌ B and watch the reaction quotient Q return to K.
- Temperature and activation energy. Compare the fraction of molecules with energy above Ea at two temperatures, and see why that ratio gives the Arrhenius temperature dependence.
- Titration of a strong acid with a strong base. What it says...
- Titration of a strong base with a strong acid. Says it what...
- Titration of any acid or base with any other. Including speciation plots, buffer capacity,
Excel spreadsheets
Descriptions of the spreadsheets. Download a file and open it in Excel.
Matlab programs
Descriptions of the Matlab programs. New to Matlab? Start with the Instant MATLAB tutorial (PDF).