Content types

EduSpec contains different types of content. Apart from text and figures it makes use of spectra and molecular structures that allow or require you to interact. Below, the different types of content are shown and their special features (if any) are detailed.

Figures

Both the spectrum and the molecule below are simply figures. The spectrum is used in questions in which you will normally be asked to identify the origin of the peak highlighted in blue. The molecule is used for explanatory purposes and in questions where you are asked to select a peak corresponding to the functional group highlighted in blue.

JSmol JavaScript component

The molecular structure below is a JSmol JavaSript component. Such an component allows all kinds of manipulations, but in the context of EduSpec's IR module, only the possibility to animate molecular vibrations is exploited. As a user, you can rotate the molecule by clicking on it using the left mouse button, keeping it depressed and moving the mouse. A rotation around the z-axis is possible by Alt-clicking and moving the mouse. Finally, Shift-clicking allows both rotation around the z-axis via left / right movements of the mouse, and zooming via up / down movements. Try it!

Incidentally, the differently coloured atoms in JSmol (and in regular figures in EduSpec) roughly follow the CPK coloring. Briefly, carbon atoms in JSmol are grey, hydrogens are white, oxygen is red, nitrogen is blue and sulphur is yellow.

JSpecView JavaScript component

The spectrum below is a JSpecView JavaScript component. EduSpec uses it in questions where you are asked to select a peak that corresponds to a certain functional group. The red lines at the top of the spectrum mark regions (normally peaks) that are selectable. When you move your mouse over the spectrum, the peak regions will be highlighted in grey. You can select a hightlighted peak by clicking with the left mouse button. In the component above, you will see the number in the box at the bottom left change as a result of selecting different peaks. In the rest of EduSpec, this box will normally be invisible, but the program uses the number to check which peak you have selected and, in questions, if it is a correct one (sometimes, several peaks can be correct!).

Connected JSmol and JSpecview JavaScript components

The JSmol and JSpecView components can be connected, such that clicking on a peak results in an animation of the corresponding molecular vibration. The reverse is of course not true, since a single atom or functional group can be involved in multiple vibrations, resulting in as many peaks. The two connected components will only be used in an explanatory context.