Visualization: The Key to Understanding Chemistry Concepts

Look better. Single atoms in chemistry, and single atoms in physics

“…[40] In doing so, chemists borrow from physics physical and conceptual tools such as transmission electron microscopes, synchrotron radiation and quantum mechanics theory, adapting them to their need to eventually visualize single atoms in the context of their powerful molecular structure and reaction mechanism approach through which they created the cornucopia of new, artificial substances benefiting society at large. [1,2,22,25] Actually, as remarked by Lévy-Leblond, physics itself "despite its intrinsic mathematisation which seems to endow it with a more abstract than any other natural science, cannot be reduced to its mathematical formalism": [41] «Formulas cannot be understood, neither can they be stated, for that matter, without words. The letters or other symbols that enter such formulas are but short-hand representatives of concepts, which have no existence independent of language.…”

“…[42] Since visualization helps scientists in general "to envisage new possibilities by imagining certain spatial and physical properties and operations", [14] it follows that by expanding and enhancing visualization abilities we can help scientists, and chemists in particular, to envisage more possibilities and creation of new substances and functional materials. [2,4,12] Observing that "fruitful progress is often made at the fuzzy interface between disciplines; and because great discoveries were often associated with the ability of the researcher to look at a problem from an angle which is outside her own discipline" we concluded in 2010 that "collaboration with biologists, physicists, geologists etc. seeking the advice of chemists is and will increasingly be a feature common to leading chemical researchers".…”

Look Better: Single Atoms in Chemistry and Single Atoms in Physics

“…[46] In doing so, chemists borrow from physics concepts such as quantum mechanics theory, and tools like the transmission electron microscope, synchrotron radiation for advanced X-ray scattering, and many others adapting them to their need to eventually visualize single atoms in the context of their powerful molecular structure and reaction mechanism approach through which they created the cornucopia of new, artificial substances benefiting society at large. [1,2,29] As remarked by Lévy-Leblond, a prominent theoretical physicist and epistemologist, physics itself "despite its intrinsic mathematisation which seems to endow it with a more abstract than any other natural science, cannot be reduced to its mathematical formalism". [47] Adding that: «Formulas cannot be understood, neither can they be stated, for that matter, without words.…”

“…[48] In general, visualization helps scientists "to envisage new possibilities by imagining certain spatial and physical properties and operations", [14] from which it follows that by expanding and enhancing visualization skills and ability we can help scientists, and chemists in particular, to envisage more possibilities and creation of new substances and functional materials. [2,4,12] Observing that "fruitful progress is often made at the fuzzy interface between disciplines; and because great discoveries were often associated with the ability of the researcher to look at a problem from an angle which is outside her own discipline", [1] I concluded in 2010 that "collaboration with biologists, physicists, geologists etc. seeking the advice of chemists is and will increasingly be a feature common to leading chemical researchers".…”

“…Mental visualization and association of chemical models for substances, especially molecular structures, atoms and electrons, are the key mental activities founding chemistry's unique methodology amid natural sciences. [1] Today, the concept is widely shared among scholars in chemistry education [2] and foundations of chemistry. [3] Drawing examples from different areas of chemistry, we have lately shown how visualization can be effectively used alongside with recent research outcomes and digital connectivity tools to enhance chemistry education with the aim to foster creativity in chemistry.…”