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9701 AS Chemistry/ Topic 9 Periodicity/ 5 interactive simulations/ drag to rotate 3D scenes

Periodicity, made interactive

Five simulations covering Topic 9: the trends in atomic radius, ionisation energy, melting point, electronegativity and conductivity across period 3, the structure and bonding behind the melting points, the acid-base character of the period 3 oxides, the hydrolysis of the chlorides, and the two dips in the ionisation energy pattern.

1. Trends across period 3 3D · 9.1

Across a period the nuclear charge rises while the electrons go into the same shell, so the attraction on the outer electrons grows. Pick a property and watch the bars change; the explanation underneath says why.

drag to rotate · bar height is the chosen property

Property

2. Structure and bonding across period 3 3D · 9.2

The melting points across period 3 make no sense until you look at the structures. Three giant metallic lattices, one giant covalent, three simple molecular solids and a monatomic gas. Rotate each one and read its melting point off the graph.

drag to rotate · wheel to zoom

Element

3. The oxides of period 3 2D · 9.3

Metal oxides on the left are ionic and basic, the oxide in the middle is amphoteric, and the non-metal oxides on the right are covalent and acidic. Drop each one into water and read the pH.

Oxide

4. The chlorides of period 3 2D · 9.3

Ionic chlorides dissolve to give neutral solutions; covalent chlorides are hydrolysed, giving fumes of hydrogen chloride and a strongly acidic solution. Add each to water and see which fumes.

Chloride

5. Ionisation energies: the pattern and the two dips 2D · 9.1

First ionisation energy rises across a period, but there are two small dips. Each one is evidence for the sub-shell structure of the atom. Click an element to see its outer configuration and why it sits where it does.

Series

ELEMENT
1st IONISATION ENERGY
OUTER CONFIGURATION
ELECTRON REMOVED FROM
First ionisation energy is the energy to remove one electron from each atom in one mole of gaseous atoms: X(g) → X⁺(g) + e⁻.
TheLucidSTEM · Cambridge International AS Level Chemistry 9701 · Topic 9 Periodicity. Every scene runs in the browser; drag to rotate 3D scenes, wheel to zoom. Values are standard textbook data rounded for teaching.

About this lab: Periodicity

3D bar charts of atomic radius, ionisation energy, melting point, electronegativity and conductivity across period 3, the giant metallic, giant covalent, simple molecular and monatomic structures behind the melting points, the oxides from basic through amphoteric to acidic with pH, the chlorides and their hydrolysis, and first ionisation energies with the two sub-shell dips explained.

Five simulations covering Topic 9: the trends in atomic radius, ionisation energy, melting point, electronegativity and conductivity across period 3, the structure and bonding behind the melting points, the acid-base character of the period 3 oxides, the hydrolysis of the chlorides, and the two dips in the ionisation energy pattern.

Periodicity is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry 9701 (topic 9 The Periodic Table: chemical periodicity). The same ideas are examined in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 (topic 7 Acids, bases and salts, topic 8 The Periodic Table). The course is assessed in Paper 1 (Multiple Choice (AS)), Paper 2 (AS Structured), Paper 3 (Advanced Practical), Paper 4 (A Level Structured), Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis, Evaluation). Syllabus for examination in 2025-2027. There are 5 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

Full syllabus map: AS Level Chemistry 9701 topic 9.

How to use this simulation

  1. 1. Trends across period 3. Across a period the nuclear charge rises while the electrons go into the same shell, so the attraction on the outer...
  2. 2. Structure and bonding across period 3. The melting points across period 3 make no sense until you look at the structures.
  3. 3. The oxides of period 3. Metal oxides on the left are ionic and basic, the oxide in the middle is amphoteric, and the non-metal oxides on the...
  4. 4. The chlorides of period 3. Ionic chlorides dissolve to give neutral solutions; covalent chlorides are hydrolysed, giving fumes of hydrogen...
  5. 5. Ionisation energies: the pattern and the two dips. First ionisation energy rises across a period, but there are two small dips.
  6. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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