Education in quantum and structural chemistry on the WWW—a multimedia project

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Abstract We report the design and installation of a Computer Based Learning (CBL) project using the World Wide Web (WWW) in the internet for the topics of quantum and structural chemistry to be part of a University course in Physical Chemistry. The course material is represented of texts, pictures, 2D and 3D animations, virtual reality scenarios of molecular structures, orbitals and dynamic processes. Data of 3D structures, molecular vibrational modes and chemical reactions are displayed. The programming language is Perl for serving the data from a UNIX SQL database to the web server. The main advantages over traditional textbooks are the available 3D molecular structures for individual inspection and the integrated quantum chemical modules to carry out individual calculations with different approximations (HMO, MOPAC, GAUSSIAN). Navigation buttons support an individual path of learning through the lectures. Special chapters explain the use of molecular and orbital symmetry in chemistry. The course is scheduled and supervised by examinations, e-mails, and log files.