curious - is this game accurate in it's dipiction of real chemistry ?

[laszlozoltan]

as title suggests- educational or cacademia ?

[ToughThought]

No, it isn't educational. It is explicitly fake chemistry, intended for enjoyment. Still, it can spark an interest in some real chemical reactions.

[laszlozoltan]

exactly what I wanted to know- too bad imho- thank you

[BlivetWidget]

As a materials engineer IRL, I found the liberties taken with chemistry to be well within the bounds of believable science fiction. I would hardly call it explicitly fake, aside from the alchemical elements introduced later in the game. A game not even purporting to be educational could do worse than familiarize players with the periodic table and teach them some common chemical names. As a small note, the "maximum number of bonds" for each element is just the absolute value of the most extreme oxidation state. I haven't checked every single element, but the only discrepancies that stuck out at me have been due to discoveries made after the game's release.

An IBM physicist was able to manipulate individual atoms to spell "IBM" in 1989. I think by the time we're collapsing stars for interstellar travel, it's okay to assume we can also build chemical reactors that can manipulate atoms a bit more directly.

So don't take it too seriously, but at the same time, it's not all nonsense either. As for me, the game let me play on a dream machine for people in my field, so I got what I wanted and more.

[laszlozoltan]

an interesting post- I appreciate your comment- but what a lost opportunity I say, to provide something of an educational value within the framework of this game. Fun with a purpose...yeah, I'll buy it. But, just for fun- meh, I can find better value elsewhere. Thanks again.

[Ryuu]

Originally posted by BlivetWidget:

but the only discrepancies that stuck out at me have been due to discoveries made after the game's release.

wow

[BlivetWidget]

Thereabouts, anyhow. Those really familiar with the periodic table will note the SpaceChem table was based on the state of chemical knowledge between late '97 and 2003, assuming you got your information from sources super up to date. But even now in 2018, a lot of the periodic tables being sold haven't been updated since 2009. So probably he used the most recent one available to him.

Edit: for clarity, by up to date I mean formally accepted, a process that can take over a decade from the original discovery.

[laszlozoltan]

well, the inclusion of elements "artificially" created with a particle accelerator is irrelevant imo if interactions of elements portrayed is unreal....one, might as well play lego-designer instead, at least then one would not be taken down some garden-path into the land of oz

[ExaltedDuck]

As a chemist, I can say this game is 100% accurate to what I do at work.






Sarcastically.

[BlivetWidget]

Originally posted by laszlozoltan:

well, the inclusion of elements "artificially" created with a particle accelerator is irrelevant imo if interactions of elements portrayed is unreal....one, might as well play lego-designer instead, at least then one would not be taken down some garden-path into the land of oz

That's like saying someone should never read science fiction on the grounds it might confuse them. As long as you understand the liberties taken with our current knowledge, sprinkling in bits of reality makes it more fun. YMMV.

[welleli]

Originally posted by laszlozoltan:

an interesting post- I appreciate your comment- but what a lost opportunity I say, to provide something of an educational value within the framework of this game. Fun with a purpose...yeah, I'll buy it. But, just for fun- meh, I can find better value elsewhere. Thanks again.

This game has something much better to offer than 'educational value', it actually gives your brain a solid workout. Information has no value if your brain has limited ability to process it.

[laszlozoltan]

cacademia

[Fishcake]

While not necessarily educational in chemistry, it does help teach algorithms, becuase that is essentially what you are creating throughout the entire game, visual algorithms. So I guess it is educational in a way

[Gamil]

Originally posted by laszlozoltan:

an interesting post- I appreciate your comment- but what a lost opportunity I say, to provide something of an educational value within the framework of this game. Fun with a purpose...yeah, I'll buy it. But, just for fun- meh, I can find better value elsewhere. Thanks again.

I absolutely guarantee that there is zero chance you can find "better value" outside of a Zachtronics game.

[Ryuu]

True, recommend it for kids chemistry class :)