Thermal Container (Heater/Cooler). This element heats or cools a substance during Run mode until it boils or freezes. To place a substance in the Thermal Container, you can (A) click on a button in the Substance Palette and then click on the Container; (B) use the mass scooper, substance (molar) scooper, or volume scooper; or (C) use the Select tool to move a substance (pile or scoop) into the Container (see Figs. 1 and 2). To turn on the heater (cooler), click Run. The displayed temperature rapidly increases (decreases) (Fig. 3). When a phase change occurs (Fig. 4), the temperature remains steady briefly until the phase change is complete. If the phase change is to liquid form, the heating (cooling) continues until the substance becomes a gas (solid) (Fig. 5).
Figure 1 | Figure 2 | Figure 3 | Figure 4 | Figure 5
Once the final phase change takes place, a message appears that says This substance can get warmer (colder), but will not change its phase. The user still needs to click Stop to end the simulation. At any time during the simulation, clicking Pause will suspend the heating (cooling) and clicking Stop will stop it. To clear the contents of the Thermal Container, depress Select and click on the red button. In the Thermal Container's Properties Box, you can determine whether the Container is a heater (default) or cooler. You can also set the Container's Initial Temperature in Celsius.