July 1, 2016 (Vol. 36, No. 13)
Rating:
Strong Points: Beautiful design, easy to use
Weak Points: No additional information about elements included
Platform:
iPad/iPhone/Android
Cost:
$0.99
Summary:
ChemCalc is a simple, elegantly designed Periodic Table app and molecular mass calculator. To calculate the molecular weight of a given molecule, users need only tap the corresponding elements within the Periodic Table and indicate the number of each atom type from the number pad located above the Periodic Table. The selected numbers are automatically displayed as subscript in the molecule’s chemical formula in the display field. Users can also indicate the number of water molecules for hydrates. Tapping the calculate button quickly displays the molecular mass for the entered molecule. Beyond this feature, the app includes a reference sheet of common ions, information about acids and bases (with audio pronunciations), as well as a game in which users must quickly identify the positions of a series of 10 elements within the Periodic Table as fast as possible.
