3D Printed Molecules and Extended Solid Models for Teaching Symmetry and Point Groups

Autor/inn/en	Scalfani, Vincent F.; Vaid, Thomas P.
Titel	3D Printed Molecules and Extended Solid Models for Teaching Symmetry and Point Groups
Quelle	In: Journal of Chemical Education, 91 (2014) 8, S.1174-1180 (7 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9584
DOI	10.1021/ed400887t
Schlagwörter	Computer Peripherals; Educational Technology; Technology Uses in Education; Science Instruction; Chemistry; Geometric Concepts; Scientific Concepts; Molecular Structure; Teaching Methods + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Unterrichtsmedien; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Chemie; Elementare Geometrie; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode
Abstract	Tangible models help students and researchers visualize chemical structures in three dimensions (3D). 3D printing offers a unique and straightforward approach to fabricate plastic 3D models of molecules and extended solids. In this article, we prepared a series of digital 3D design files of molecular structures that will be useful for teaching chemical education topics such as symmetry and point groups. Two main file preparation methods are discussed within this article that outlines how to prepare 3D printable chemical structures. Both methods start with either a crystallographic information file (.cif) or a protein databank (.pdb) file and are ultimately converted into a 3D stereolithography (.stl) file by using a variety of commercially and freely available software. From the series of digital 3D chemical structures prepared, 18 molecules and 7 extended solids were 3D printed. Our results show that the file preparation methods discussed within this article are both suitable routes to prepare 3D printable digital files of chemical structures. Further, our results also suggest that 3D printing is an excellent method for fabricating 3D models of molecules and extended solids. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10