Puzzles

I thought it would be appropriate to have a series of various puzzles, not all of which are directly related to chemistry, as avenues for exercising your brains. Some of them are given as links, some I recovered from the corners of my memory.

Web Links:

• Su Doku - from the Times Online.
• Chemical Su Doku - from the University of Hull.
• Sudoku Assistant/Solver - by I. Hanson from the St. Olaf College.
• Chemical Element Wordsearch - wordsearches randomly constructed from the chemical elements of the whole periodic table or from a part of it; from the University of Hull.
• Periodic Table Applet - from Dartmouth College. Need to have Java-enabled browser.
• Element Flash Cards - learn the names and symbols of the elements; from Jefferson Lab.
• Element Math Game - calculate the number of protons, neutrons or electrons in an atom based; from Jefferson Lab.
• Element Balancing Game - practice balancing chemical equations by picking the correct coefficients; from Jefferson Lab.
• Element Hangman - discover which element the computer has picked by guessing the letters in its name; from Jefferson Lab.
• Element Crossword Puzzles - Use the clues provided to solve each crossword puzzle; from Jefferson Lab.
• Element Word Scramble - Use the clues provided to unscramble the name of an element; from Jefferson Lab.
• Element Concentration - Challenge your memory and your knowledge of the elements; from Jefferson Lab.
• Element Matching Game - Match an element's name to its symbol; from Jefferson Lab.
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Local Links:

• Periodic Table Games
• Diana's Puzzle
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Sources unknown or difficult to recover:

• Twelve coins. I believe, this puzzle was offered to me by my physics teacher in high school (almost thirty years ago?) Among twelve coins there is only one fake; you need to identify it using only three measurements on balances that can only tell which side is heavier (or lighter). You do not know whether the fake coin is heavier or lighter but you know that there is only one. It sounds simple but may take awhile to solve. The key is to think outside the easy approach.
• Another example where avoiding a slippery-slope of 'apparent' solution is a frequent obstacle. You'd be surprised by how many people fall into that: A Fish weighs 8 pounds plus half of its weight; how much does it weigh?
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Last Updated on 01/11/06