Interactive cube for effective demonstration of virtual periodic table

Virtual Periodic Table (VPT) is an effective software tool to present elements in a conceivable three-dimensional (3D) mode. VPT is used to assist users in their learning before performing any hands-on activities in chemistry laboratory. Various VPTs have been developed for enhancing the learning process of chemistry education. Different types of 2D (two-dimensional) interaction interfaces based on menus, buttons, icons etc. are used in the existing VPTs. The unrealistic 2D nature of these interfaces affect the exploration of chemical elements and the learning performance of students. Therefore, there is a need to develop students’ motivation in order to get the necessary information of any chemical element in a realistic manner. In this paper, we present a Cube based Interface in Virtual Periodic Table (CIVPT) for demonstration of the detail information of chemical elements. The cube with its six faces provides the information of chemical elements; chemical properties, physical properties, electronic configuration, usage of an element in daily life and chemical bonding respectively. For controlled evaluations, ninety-four (94) students participated and divided them in two groups for the assessment. Outcomes of the evaluations revealed that CIVPT enhances students’ learning and their motivations in gaining knowledge about chemical elements.