Chemistry Everyday for Everyone

Using Games To Teach Chemistry

An Annotated Bibliography
Jeanne V. Russell
Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, 4901 E. University Blvd., Odessa, TX 79762

Many chemistry instructors use games and puzzles to

make learning chemistry more fun and interesting. Listed
below are most of the published or marketed chemistry
games. Games designed for outdated computers have been
excluded from the list. The games were organized according
to subject matter and then arranged alphabetically by title.
A short description of each game is included. The addresses
and URLs of suppliers and vendors are given at the end of
the bibliography.
The SERAPHIM computer games whose catalog numbers
start with PC are for an IBM-compatible personal computer
and those with catalog numbers starting with MC are for an
Apple Macintosh.
Introductory Chemistry

General Knowledge
1. Chem-Cubes. Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories
Catalog (1998), p 563. There is an 8-game series that teaches
the elements and a 9-game series that teaches the ions. The
game teaches names, symbols, atomic structure, valences, and
how to write balanced equations.
2. Chem Chex. Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories
Catalog (1998), p 563. Board game: several games that
include identifying and naming ions and compounds. It can
also be used for writing and balancing chemical equations.
3. Chem Trak. Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories Catalog
(1998), p 563. Wheel game: 5 games on element names,
element symbols, ion names, ion symbols, compound formulas
and reaction equations.
4. Chemical Jeopardy. Deavor, J. A. J. Chem. Educ. 1996,
73, 430. Overhead game: answers to questions are placed on
a grid in suitable categories. Students give the correct questions
for the answers. Answers can be made on the current topic
being taught in the class and the game can be used at the
end of a class period. The questions are hidden by Post-its
until ready to be revealed.
5. Chemistry GamesHangman. Dalton, E.; Newman, J.;
SERAPHIM PC4604. Computer game: computer picks a
chemical term and tells how many letters it contains. You
try to guess letters and term before the man gets hanged.
6. Chemical Pursuit. Healy, J. W. SERAPHIM PC4605.
Computer game: Chemistry Pursuit is an interactive learning game used to teach facts about general chemistry. The
game can be played by one to six players. The game has a
database of 500 questions that can be modified or expanded
to suit the particular teaching situation.
7. ElementO. San-Deb-Bar-Nan-Ric-Way Corp.:
Wilmington, DE 19810; Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories
Catalog, p 564. Board game: chemistry Monopoly, makes
students aware of elements and chemical terms but requires
no chemistry knowledge.

8. EloosisA Card Game Which Demonstrates the Scientific

Method. Elking, E. J. Chem. Educ. 1974, 51, 532. Card game:
the leader knows the rule dictating which cards can be played.
The players lay down cards and the leader indicates whether
the play is acceptable. Players try to figure out rule so they
can discard their cards.
9. FactGAME. Ramette, R. W. JCE Software, 10B, 1.
Computer game: the computer asks a question, one player
answers it. Then the computer will give the answer and the
second player will judge whether the first player answered
correctly. The questions are correlated with The Chemical
World, a textbook published by Saunders.
10. A Game for Review. Paslawsky, J. J. Chem. Educ.
1976, 53, 780. Chemistry bowl game: team game played with
toss-up questions and bonus questions. Incorrect answers allow
the other team to try; incorrect answers on the bonus questions
mean the question is discarded. Timekeepers, scorekeepers, and
judges are needed besides the two teams of three students.
11. Laboratory Pursuit. Hussey, S. Flinn Chemical & Biological Catalog (1998), p 431. Board game: students move
around a board decorated with laboratory apparatus by answering questions about elements names and symbols, ions
names and symbols, or reactions. Includes safety situations
for which players can be penalized or rewarded.
12. Periodic Table Games. Martin, J. S. JCE Software,
10B, 1. Computer game: the student is given either a name
(Nomenclature Game) or a series of question marks (Formula
Game), and after a guess by clicking on an element in the
periodic table the computer gives a hint in the form of information about the correct element. Individual scores are
kept and top scorers can be displayed. Students can play the
computer or each other.
13. The Tile Game. Banks, R. C. Chem. Educator 1996,
1(2):S1430-4171(96)02021-3. Dominoes game: the use of
domino-shaped pieces to teach dimensional analysis, starting
with domino spots and moving into metric conversions,
molarity, and stoichiometry games.
Elements & Atomic Structure (Not Symbols)
1. Chem Bingo. Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories
Catalog (1998), p 563. Board game: Bingo cards (5 5) with
the symbols are provided. There are element cards, ion cards,
and two call lists. The first person with five covered symbols
in a row wins the game.
2. Chemistry Checkers. Orlik, Y. G.; Glyakov, P. V.;
Varova, R. M.; SERAPHIM PC4606. Computer game:
this program is a checkers game intended for mastering the
chemical properties of the main classes of inorganic compounds,
metals, acids, bases, and salts.
3. Chemical Elements Bingo. Teyada, S.; Palacios, J. J. Chem.
Educ. 1995, 72, 1115. Board game: the periodic table is given,
and there are cards with the Bohr atom type of pictures of
the elements on the front and the elements properties on

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Chemistry Everyday for Everyone

the back. The object is to see how many cards the students
can place on the board in a certain time. This game should
help students see the relationship between number of valence
electrons and the periodic table.
4. The Electron Game. Wiseman, F. L. Jr. J. Chem. Educ.
1978, 55, 325. Courtyard game: the courtyard is outlined
like the 1s, 2s, and 2p orbitals. Students must place 10 players
(electrons) into the court following the aufbau rules.
5. The Great Periodic Table Race. Science Kit & Boreal
Laboratories Catalog (1998), p 563. Board game: the board
is a periodic table and students move around the board to
learn the arrangement of the elements in the table.
6. Odd Man Out. Armitage, G. M. J. Chem. Educ. 1979,
56, 609. Classroom game: students have a list of elements and
a list of properties. They must match elements and properties,
two elements to each property with one left over.
7. Chemistry GamesOrder the Element. Dalton, E.;
Newman, J.; SERAPHIM PC4604. Computer game: Student
must order the elements on the basis of periodic trends. A
periodic table is available along with a hint.
8. Quantum Quest. Klawiter, M. Science Kit & Boreal
Laboratories Catalog (1998), p 564. Board game: Teaches
students quantum numbers, Pauli exclusion principle, and
Hunds rule in placing electrons into orbitals.

Nomenclature, Formulas, & Equation Writing

1. Balancing Game. Schmitt, H. J. Chem. Educ. 1976,
53, 172. Chalkboard game: class is divided into two teams.
Two unbalanced equations of the same difficulty are written
on the board. One student from each team comes to the
board and may write one coefficient or erase one mistake.
Then the next student comes. No interaction is allowed
among the team members. The first team to indicate their
equation is balanced and is correct wins the round.
2. Chemantics. Sawyer, A. K. J Chem. Educ. 1976, 53,
780. Card game: element symbols, subscripts, and parentheses
are given on cards and students make compounds from the
cards. For instance, Ca ( O H ) 2 takes six cards. The game
is played like rummy. The score is based on the number of
atoms in the compound.
3. Chemical Bingo. Caldwell, W. E. J. Chem. Educ. 1935,
12, 393. Board game: the student gets a 3 5-inch Bingo
card with five rows and five columns of compound formulas.
The names of the compounds are drawn from a bowl and
read. Students use markers to cover the correct formula. Five
markers in a row wins the game.
4. Chemical Dice. Caldwell, W. E. J. Chem. Educ. 1935,
12, 393. Dice game: this game is mentioned briefly in the
article. It is played with chemical dice, and element symbols
on the dice are used to make molecules.
5. CHeMoVEr. Russell, J. V. J. Chem. Educ. 1999, 76,
487. Board game: students must answer a chemistry question
correctly in order to move their piece around the board.
Several sets of cards are available: element symbols, polyatomic
ions, inorganic nomenclature, equations (types & balancing),
and predicting products.
6. Hungry Frog Chemistry, Chemistry I: Ion Charges &
Formulae. Science Education Software, Inc. Computer game:
teaches the charges and formulas of all of the common ions,
especially those that you select. Has feedback to repeat those
you miss. Designed for grades 612 on a Macintosh computer.
7. Hungry Frog Chemistry, Chemistry III: Periodic Table:
482

Element Names & Symbols. Science Education Software, Inc.

Computer game: teaches the symbols of all the elements of
the periodic table. Has a feedback to repeat those you miss.
Designed for grades 512 on a Macintosh computer.
8. Hungry Frog Chemistry, Chemistry IV: Balancing
Equations by Inspection. Science Education Software, Inc.
Computer game: teaches the art of balancing equations by
inspection. Designed for grades 712 on a Macintosh computer.
9. Hungry Frog Chemistry, Chemistry V: Equations Coefficients and Subscripts. Science Education Software, Inc. Computer
game: students determine coefficients or subscripts in simple
equations. Designed for grades 712 on a Macintosh computer.
10. Ion Chemchips. Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories
Catalog (1998), p 564. Jigsaw puzzle game: each ion has
notches corresponding to its valence to help the students write
correct formulas and balance equations.
11. Molecular Madness. Schmitt, H. J. Chem. Educ. 1976,
53, 172. Courtyard game: each student selects an atom (polystyrene ball) and must identify the atom on the basis of size
and number of valence electrons (black beads). The goal is
for the student to participate in the formation of as many
molecules as possible in the time given.
12. Molecular Structure Game. Science Kit & Boreal
Laboratories Catalog (1998), p 564. Board game: a compound
is given and the students must collect the elements to make
that compound on the board. The first player to have the
elements and place them properly on the board wins.
13. Names & Symbols of Elements. Smith, S. G.; Chabay,
R. J. Chem. Educ. 1977, 54, 688689. Plato computer game:
students challenge each other. The first student gives the
symbol or name of an element and the second must give the
corresponding name or symbol. Then the second student
quizzes the first about the element.
14. Old Prof. Granath, P. L.; Russell, J. V. J. Chem. Educ.
1999, 76, 485. Card game: Old Maidtype of game in which
the cards are either symbols, polyatomic ions, or inorganic
nomenclature. Students must ask for cards by their symbol
and must name the element, polytatomic ion, or compound
before they can lay down a like pair of cards.
15. Practice with Chemical Symbols, Formulas, and
Equations. Allen, T. J.; Fetcher Senior High School, Neptune Beach, FL 32266. SERAPHIM PC2202. Computer
game: Provides the high school and general chemistry student
with practice in writing chemical formulas, naming compounds,
and writing net ionic equations. A chemical crossword puzzle
is also included.

Chemical Reactions
1. Chemaze. Smith, S.; Chabay, R. Falcon software.
Computer game: Pac-man type of game where it is necessary
to know common reactions, especially those found in the
qualitative analysis scheme and acidbase reactions.
2. Chemical Dominos. Freund, H. R. Freund Publishing.
Computer game: A fascinating game to quickly teach reactions and reaction products. Two levels are available; the
beginners level is color coded.
3. Chemical Dungeons. Estell, J. K. SERAPHIM
PC4603. Computer game: A chemical adventure game that
depends on knowledge of reactions and demonstrations
common in general chemistry courses. In addition to figuring
out chemical solutions to the situations presented, students
are quizzed by a roving professor.

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Chemistry Everyday for Everyone

4. Chemistry GamesAnimal. Dalton, E.; Newman, J.

SERAPHIM PC4604. Computer game: the game is a takeoff on the party game called Animal, but chemicals are used
instead of animals. Student gives a chemical and a property.
The program then asks for another chemical and a property
that distinguishes it from the first one. The next must be distinguishable from the first two, etc.

Solutions & Solubilities

1. ABS Game. Olney, D. SERAPHIM PC4604 and
MC501. Computer game: Simulated card game in which
chemical facts can be uncovered by choosing pairs of numbered
cards whose numbers add to seven.
2. Concentration Quiz. Olney, D. SERAPHIM PC2501
and MC501. Computer game: User is given information
about 4 solution concentrations (in various forms). User must
rank them in decreasing order as directed. After inputting
ranking, user is shown correct ranking and relevant values
needed to make comparisons.
3. Precipitation Game. Mothershed, C.; Rifkind, D.;
SERAPHIM PC3401. Computer game: Game in which you
are given five cations and ten anions. Objective is to form
precipitates and get rid of all of your cations.
Other Subjects
1. Gas Laws: Dalton. Bendall, V.; Powell, H. SERAPHIM
PC2602. Computer game: Students add gas to a closed container with a blowout valve that requires a specified pressure.
Can be a game (most points for closest to blowout pressure) or
an experimental simulation. Requires ideal-gas calculations.
2. Chemical Equilibrium: Equil Tic-Tac-Toe. Olney, D.
SERAPHIM PC2901. Computer game: Tic-tac-toe game
in which questions about aqueous equilibria must be answered correctly in order to occupy a square.
Organic Chemistry
1. Aliphatic Organic Synthesis Game. Smith, S. G.;
Chabay, R. J. Chem. Educ. 1977, 54, 688689. Plato computer game: A student must successfully complete a series
of multistep organic syntheses in order to progress from the
starting point to the endpoint of the game board.
2. The Aromatic Substitution Game. Zanger, M.; Gennaro,
A. R.; McKee, J. R.; J. Chem. Educ. 1993, 70, 985. Classroom
game: students must start with benzene and synthesize a given
aromatic compound using a multistep synthesis. They can start
with tables, charts, and hints, which can be removed later.
3. ChemAction. Borg-Warner Chemicals: Parksburg, WV.
Board game: Scrabble-type game in which tiles are used to
build organic molecules.
4. Chemical Bank. James, H. J. Chem. Educ. 1929, 6,
17901792. Classroom game: atoms with hooks are used
to build molecules that can be synthesized directly from its
elements or from inorganic compounds by a definitely known
reaction.
5. Chem Rain. Smith, S.; Chabey, R. Falcon Software.
Computer game: based on the reactions of organic compounds.
6. Chemsyn-Chemical Card Game 1. Eglinton, G; Maxwell,
J. R. Educ. Chem. 1971, 8, 142. Card game: cards have a
molecular structure (in several model types) on the front and
chemical information including preparations and syntheses
on the back of the card. The cards are laid on the table, each

card next to another from which it can be converted or to

which it can be converted. The winner is the person who
can first lay down all his cards.
7. Coin Game Based on the Hexoses. Chen, P. S.; Smith, R.
J. Chem. Educ. 1944, 21, 74. Coin game: uses 8 pennies, each
with a different date. One player determines the penny selected
by another player using knowledge of the eight hexoses.
8. Design-a-Drug. Meisenheimer, J. L.; SERAPHIM
PC4604. Computer game: the player is to design a tranquilizer
from molecular fragments that are displayed.
9. Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Game. Smith, S.;
Smith, S. G.; Chabay, R. J. Chem. Educ. 1977, 54, 688689.
Plato computer game: one player gives a compound that a
second player must synthesize. The compound must be a
benzene derivative with no more than two substituents in
stated locations.
10. The Game of the Names. Goldsmith, R. H. J. Chem.
Educ. 1971, 48, 463. Party game: name of prominent organic
chemist is put on players back. By asking yes or no questions,
the player is to determine the name.
11. Hungry Frog Chemistry, Chemistry II: Organic
Chemistry: Qualitative Analysis. Science Education Software,
Inc. Computer game: teaches the reagents to use on the
different functional groups for qualitative analysis. Has a
feedback to repeat those you miss. Designed for grades 1012
on a Macintosh computer.
12. Organic Chemistry Squares. Schreck, J. O. J. Chem.
Educ. 1992, 69, 233. Chalkboard game: takeoff on Hollywood
Squares (tic-tac-toe). A question is asked of the student
designated for that spot. The tic-tac-toe grid is drawn on the
board with the names of students in each spot. The lead
student decides which player will get the question.
13. Infrared-Spectroscopy Checkers. Pendarvis, R. Chem.
Educator 1998, 3(2):S1430-4171(98)04234-3. A checkers
game in which students must interpret the spectrum associated
with the square to which they are trying to move. The amount
of interpretation can be varied according to the level of the
students playing the game. They might be required to identify
only one functional group or give up to the full identification
of the compound.
14. Organocards-Chemical Card Game 2. Kristol, D.;
Perimutter, H. D. Educ. Chem. 1971, 8, 145. Card game:
the deck contains both functional group cards and reagent
cards. The cards can be laid down in a reaction with a functional group card(s) of the reactants followed by a reagent
card followed by functional group card(s) of the product. The
winner is the person who can first lay down all his or her cards.
15. Organocards-Chemical Card Game 3. Kristol, D.;
Perimutter, H. D. Educ. Chem. 1971, 8, 145. Card game:
the deck contains ring compounds and reagent cards. The
ring cards have zero, one, two, three, or four substituents
marked by a circle. Student are to lay down their cards to
change one ring compound into another and must specify
what substitution the circle represents. The winner is the person who can first lay down all his or her cards.
16. The Stereochem Game: Making Chemistry More Fun.
Parrill, A. L.; Gervay, J. Chem. Educator 1996, 1(5):S14304171(96)05060-1. WWW game: gives a structure and the
student must assign R or S designation. Hints can be bought
and a running score is kept.
17. Whats My Peptide? Lemley, P. V. J. Chem. Educ. 1989,

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Chemistry Everyday for Everyone

66, 1011. Questions & answer game: three groups are formed
and each group develops an octapeptide. The other groups
try to determine the sequence of the octapeptide by asking
questions about cleavage and hydrolysis experiments. Points
are subtracted for questions and awarded for correct sequencing. Game continues until all three octapeptides are correctly
sequenced.
Other Chemistry Games
1. An Exciting Approach to Student Learning in Analytical
Chemistry: Its Jeopardy. Mabrouk, P. A. Chem. Educator 1996,
1(5):S1430-4171(96)03037-3. Bulletin board game: answers
are displayed under categories, with the point values increasing
as you go down a category. The game can be played in teams
with the teams working together. There are categories such as
statistics, spectroscopy, gravimetry, acidbase, redox, separations,
true or false (must correct false statements), and real world.
2. CodonThe DNA Game. Flinn Chemical & Biological
Catalog Reference Manual 1998, p 550. Board game: has a
Bingo type of card that student uses to make five proteins.
They get the codon from the special dice; they must identify
the encoded amino acid and decide if they need that amino
acid in one of their protein sequences.
3. Nucleogenesis! A Game with Natural Rules for Teaching Nuclear Synthesis and Decay. Olbris, D. J.; Herzfeld, J. J.
Chem. Educ. 1999, 76, 349. Board game: All students start
with their pin on hydrogen of an isotope table. From the roll
of the dice they are allowed to make certain moves up the
board: hydrogen fusion, neutron fusion, helium fusion, or
bombardment (a table of bombardment products is included
with the game). The first student to obtain an isotope of silver wins the game.
4. Want To Go on a Mole Hunt? Russell, J. V. Chem.
Educator 1998, 3(2):S1430-4171(98)02199-8. Party game:

484

a scavenger hunt type of game in which students must go to

six stations and answer queries. Either the question or the
answer contains the word mole or the abbreviation mol.
Many of the questions deal with chemistry and science; however, it does include questions about geography, vocabulary,
objects, and people who meet this criterion.
5. Xtal-line. Allsobrook, A. Jr; Brown, M. E.; Gasser, L.
J. Chem. Educ. 1973, 50, 688. Board game: uses a 3-dimensional 4 4 tic-tac-toe grid; 4 tokens in a line wins. There are
ways to play the game with different definitions of 4 tokens in
a line, such as adding rotation to form screws. Helps students
with space concepts that are useful in crystallography.
Suppliers and Vendors
The Chemical Educator; Springer: New York, http://journals.
springer-ny.com/.
Falcon Software, Inc., P.O. Box 200, Wentworth, NH 03282.
Phone: 603/764-5788. http://www.falconsoftware.com/.
Flinn Scientific Inc.; Chemical & Biological Catalog Reference
Manual 1998; P.O. Box 219, Batavia, IL 60510; phone: 800/
452-1261; email: flinnsci@aol.com.
Freund Publishing House, LTD, Suite 500, Chesham House, 150
Regent Street, London W1R5FA England or P.O. Box 35010,
Tel-Aviv, Israel.
JCE: Software; Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706-1396.
Phone 800/991-5534; http://www.jchemed.wisc.edu/JCESoft/
index.html.
SERAPHIM, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of
Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706-1396.
http://ice.chem.wisc.edu/seraphim, to download the catalog.
Science Education Software Inc., P.O. Box 60790, Palo Alto, CA
94306; http://www.hungryfrog.com/.
Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories, 777 East Park Drive, Tonawanda,
NY 14150-6782. 800-828-7777; http://sciencekit.com/.

Journal of Chemical Education Vol. 76 No. 4 April 1999 JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu