Chemical Equilibrium Sim

Overview

This educational simulation was developed to help chemistry students visualize and understand Le Chatelier’s Principle—a fundamental concept explaining how chemical systems respond to disturbances. The interactive GUI allows users to manipulate reaction conditions and observe real-time effects on equilibrium.

Features

• Interactive Controls: Adjust temperature, pressure, and concentration in real-time
• Dynamic Visualization: Animated particle representations showing molecular behavior
• Real-time Graphs: Live plotting of concentration changes over time
• Preset Scenarios: Pre-configured experiments demonstrating classic equilibrium shifts

Technical Implementation

• Language: Python with Tkinter for the graphical interface
• Simulation Engine: Numerical integration of rate equations using scipy
• Visualization: Matplotlib for real-time graphing and data visualization

Impact

The simulation is currently used by TCU Chemistry professors as a supplementary teaching tool in General Chemistry courses. It helps students develop intuition for abstract chemical concepts through hands-on experimentation without the constraints of a physical laboratory.