# Augmented Reality in Chemistry Education: Exploring moleculARweb
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Augmented Reality in Chemistry
The Swiss journal of chemistry, Chimia, has published our peer-reviewed article detailing the latest features of the free moleculARweb platform. This innovative tool is designed for teaching and studying chemistry at no cost! Users can now explore, manipulate, and simulate molecules directly from their web browsers on smartphones, tablets, or laptops.
Previously, I shared insights about moleculARweb and other technologies that leverage augmented reality to aid educators in teaching and students in learning complex subjects like chemistry and biology. The newly released article highlights the advanced tools available through moleculARweb, allowing users to construct and visualize molecules in 3D augmented reality and observe their interactions. These 3D visualizations make it easy to analyze molecular structures and compare multiple molecules simultaneously, leading to better comprehension of topics such as conformational changes, phase transitions, and polarity.
Section 1.1: Features of moleculARweb
The "Virtual Modeling Kit" has been the most popular tool within moleculARweb, enabling users to load molecules from a preset list or paste them from external programs to visualize them in augmented reality. This tool aids in understanding 3D molecular structures and concepts like chirality and enantiomerism. It incorporates basic physics to simulate temperature effects on atomic motion, allowing users to examine torsional angles and the rigidity of aromatic compounds.
Chapter 2: Advancements in Virtual Modeling Kits
The new iterations of the virtual modeling kits, VMK2 and VMK3, come with several enhancements. VMK2 allows users to utilize two distinct cube markers to display separate molecular systems, enabling real-time interactions like hydrogen bonding and clashes between them. Users can also invert one molecule while keeping the other static, enhancing comparative analysis.
The first video discusses how to implement augmented reality using AR.js, A-Frame, and WebXR technologies.
In VMK3, users no longer need cube markers. Instead, they can load multiple molecules into a simulation box where they can observe interactions influenced by various parameters, such as hydrogen bonding and gravity. This provides a dynamic environment for exploring phase separation and changes in molecular behavior under different conditions.
The second video introduces the world's first augmented reality chemistry application, "AR VR Molecules Editor."
The latest modeling kits also allow users to draw their own molecules or access a vast database provided by the National Cancer Institute. For a comprehensive guide on how to load or create any molecule for visualization in the new virtual modeling kits, refer to the tutorial linked in the article.
If you're interested in a personalized tutorial on using moleculARweb, feel free to reach out to me to arrange a session via Skype or Zoom.