Molecules for the masses: App puts chemistry at the tips of users' fingers
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 - 13:30
in Physics & Chemistry
Although molecules make up everything around us, most people encounter these groups of atoms held together by chemical bonds in the pages of a textbook. They read text and see a drawing of chemical symbols or colorful circles—a one-dimensional view of the microscopic structures. Other representations have drawbacks as well: three-dimensional models are made of materials that can't replicate the rapid and continuous molecular movement. Molecules are wiggling and jiggling in a never-ending dance, but you can't see it, not even with the most powerful microscope.