Molecules

Molecules draws a molecule the way quantum physics sees it: not balls and sticks, but clouds of electron density. The central atom shows its orbital shapes morphing from a simple sphere to dumbbells, cloverleaves and more complex forms, with outer atoms arranged around it and soft bonds glowing between them.

How it works

The central cloud is made of thousands of points placed where an electron is most likely to be found, following the real hydrogen orbitals 1s, 2p, 3d and 4f. The two signs of the wave carry two colours, so the lobes alternate. By default it cycles through the shapes with a crossfade, and Orbital can hold one. The outer atoms spread out to stay as far from each other as possible, which reproduces the familiar shapes of molecules, such as a tetrahedron or an octahedron. Each has its own small round cloud, and the bonds show as density gathered between the atoms. The molecule breathes, and every point fades gently in and out.

Settings

• Orbital: -1 cycles through all shapes; 0 to 5 hold one.
• Atom Count: atoms around the centre, up to twenty.
• Orbit Radius: the bond length.
• Atom Size and Cloud Density.
• Show Bonds and Bond Color.
• Color and Phase Color: the two lobe colours.
• Randomize Axes: tumbles the molecule about a tilted axis.

Use it for

Chemistry and pharma brands, science education, quantum themes. See also Quantum Orbitals and DNA Helix.