ChemChallenge is a video game for studying and teaching physical chemistry. This application software is designed for students studying chemistry and chemical engineering. Knowledge about reactions stoichiometry and basic principles of thermodynamics are required to understand the goals of this game.
Game trailer
A link to the game trailer in Putonghua.
System requirements
A computer operated by Windows with 1.6 GB of free disc space, a mouse, a keyboard and a monitor. For the best experience a monitor with the resolution 1920 x 1080 is recommended.
Link to download ChemChallenge version 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 for Windows 11 from Itch.io (125 MB)
Differences between the game versions
Version 1.2.
A typo in the game title in the main menu was corrected. Professor Bernard Binks is acknowledged for indicating the typo.
Version 1.1.
Considering IUPAC recommendations and referees’ recommendations that were received during the peer-review of the manuscript, the following changes were made to the game:
- Gibbs free energy change of a reaction, such as ∆G0 → ∆rG0.
- Notation of the state of matter, such as H2O(l) → H2O(l).
- Notation of enthalpy change of a chemical reaction (subscript “r”), ∆H0 → ∆rH0.
- Notation of enthalpy of formation of a substance (subscript “f”), such as ∆Hf0(H2O(l)) → ∆fH0(H2O,l).
- Notation of entropy change of a chemical reaction (subscript “r”), ∆S0 → ∆rS0.
- Notation of absolute entropy of a substance, such as S0(H2O(l)) → S0(H2O,l).
How to install
The game does not require installation. Simply unpack the archive on the hard disk and start ChemChallenge.exe.
How to uninstall
Delete all game files and game logging files from “…\AppData\LocalLow\SavateevLab\ChemChallenge”.
Documentation
Research article in the Journal of Chemical Education describing gameplay, reward system, in-game currency and a case study of using ChemChallenge:
Source code
License
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
Game application tips
We created a series of videos to explain some fundamental concepts of thermodynamics. These concepts are used in ChemChallenge to complete selected levels.
Application tip 1. Learn on a specific example, why increasing temperature can enable a chemical reaction.
A link to the application tip 1 in Putonghua.
Application tip 2. This episode explains why cooling in some cases enables chemical reactions and how to use it to complete certain levels in the game.
A link to the application tip 2 in Putonghua.
Application tip 3. In chemistry, many reactions that could produce the target substance are nonspontaneous under the standard conditions. In this episode, you will learn how coupling a nonspontaneous reaction with a spontaneous one can enable synthesis of a target chemical. This is illustrated on production of iron metal from iron(III) oxide.
A link to the application tip 3 in Putonghua.
Application tip 4. In most cases, heat is released when a chemical substance is formed from elements. However, there are substances whose formation requires an input of energy. This energy is stored in chemical bonds and may be used to drive other desired chemical reactions. This video explains why using chemical compounds with a positive enthalpy of formation as reactants makes a chemical reaction more exothermic.
A link to the application tip 4 in Putonghua.
Application tip 5. In level 77 of the video game ChemChallenge, the task is to convert methanol into formaldehyde and hydrogen gas. Using this task as an example, the video explains from a perspective of thermodynamics why shining light on chemical substances can enable a non-spontaneous chemical reaction.
A link to the application tip 5 in Putonghua.
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