ChemLab vs Molecular Workbench

ChemLab is an interactive chemistry lab simulation for high-school and college general chemistry. It pairs simulated experiments with a lab notebook for theory, procedures, and student observations. Pre-designed labs cover subjects including acid-base reactions, electrochemistry, equilibrium, gas laws, kinetics, redox, and stoichiometry, with additional simulations available from third parties. Animated experiments, plug-in lab extensions, and tools to record and replay demonstrations support instruction. Standard lets students run simulations; Professional adds Lab Wizard tools for instructors to run, edit, and create labs, plus an expandable chemical database. Professional users can capture a simulation, add comments, and save a distributable demonstration for Standard users to play back. The product lists RasMol integration and an integrated periodic table application with a quiz. It is described for distance learning, pre-lab work, demonstrations, and lab run-throughs, including experiments that are dangerous, environmentally hazardous, expensive, or lengthy. It is available in English, Spanish, French, and Italian. Single-user Standard licenses start at $33.99, paid once.

Molecular Workbench is a free modeling tool for designing and conducting computational experiments across science. Its interactive learning environment supports science inquiry, while its authoring system lets instructional designers create and publish curriculum based on models and simulations. Users can customize simulations or create their own, with topics spanning gas laws, fluid mechanics, states of matter, chemical reactions, genetics, protein synthesis, and quantum phenomena. Activities can include assessments, student-data collection, learning monitoring, and teacher feedback. Simulations can also be embedded in blogs, wikis, or web pages. The Next-Generation Molecular Workbench brings computational experiments to browsers using HTML5. An offline version is available, but it cannot access the latest simulations or collect student data. Downloads are listed for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, and require Java Runtime Environment 1.5 or later. The maker says the software needs considerable computing power and may start slowly while the Java virtual machine launches. Molecular Workbench is developed and maintained by the Concord Consortium.