Computers, software and related equipment are being integrated into a molecular modeling laboratory to be used by chemistry students at all levels. Specific applications for the facility throughout our curriculum include: 1. construction and analysis of simple molecules using the VSEPR model and visualization of the electronic density distributions of polar molecules in general chemistry; 2. analysis of the stabilities, geometries and electron density distributions in reagents and reaction intermediates to explain product regiochemistry in organic chemistry; 3. visualization of the structural features of complex biopolymers to illustrate structure-function relationships and important enzyme mechanisms in biochemistry; 4. a structured study of molecular modeling, its assumptions, outcomes, and applications in physical chemistry; and 5. specialized applications in advanced courses and student research projects.
