The first edition of PTL! provided a unified, easy-to-use, dynamic tour of the periodic table by combining the digital video from the Periodic Table CD (1) with the graphical and descriptive databases of the elements from the Illustrated Periodic Table (2) and Chemistry Navigator (3). The second edition transformed PTL! into HTML, thereby unifying presentation and content for both Windows and Macintosh (4). The third edition continues this evolution, providing the power of interactive graphing and sorting.

Interactive Graphing and Sorting

The interactive graphing and sorting module in this third edition of PTL! provides a powerful visualization tool in the form of a Java applet. By clicking the Charts button from any page, periodic trends can be plotted and elements can be sorted according to specific properties or characteristics. Users can now plot any numerical value versus any other—up to three different variables on the y-axis—from within the browser. In addition to a standard plot, data may be plotted by group or by period. A data table is also provided that sorts both numeric and non-numeric data about the elements.

Updated Data

The PTL! database of information about the elements has been updated to include elements through atomic number 112, and to provide current data about all of the elements. Links are also provided to online databases so that students can easily check for updated values.

Figure 1. Finding elements in Periodic Table Live! 3rd Edition is as easy as clicking on the periodic table, which includes elements up to 112. Clicking on Charts (lower right) opens the Graphing and Sorting window as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Interactive graphing and sorting is easy using Periodic Table Live! 3rd. edition. In this example, all elements have been selected. They are listed and sorted from lowest to highest electronegativity in the table at the left. The graph on the right shows electronegativity vs. atomic number, plotted by period.

Program Design

Navigation among the elements is never farther away than the periodic table at the upper left of the page (see Figure 1). A mouse click on any symbol in the table takes you to the screen for that element. A hypertext description of the element appears on the right side of the page. Numerical data—divided into Physical (macroscopic) and Atomic properties—are available by clicking on tabs above the description. Each property is linked to its definition and a reference to the source of the data.

Buttons at the bottom right provide access to additional valuable features. Video shows movies or still images of reactions of the element. Crystal presents a three-dimensional computer-generated drawing and description of the solid-state structure of the element; links to other representations of the structure are often included. Charts brings up a new browser window showing the charting and sorting module. Glossary opens a new browser window with a glossary of terms.

Licensing

Periodic Table Live! is “Web-Ready” and can easily be delivered to students via the Web. To do this you must get a special network license based on your own situation. Licenses are available on a per student, per year basis. Contact JCE Software for more information.

Price and Ordering

Price for this CD-ROM for Macintosh and Windows: Single user on a single machine: $75 (U.S./$95 non-U.S. LANs (up to 12 users): $300 U.S./$320 non-U.S. Prices for libraries and wide area networks or other information may be obtained by contacting JCE Software, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706-1396; phone; 608/262-5153 or 800/991-5534; fax: 608/265-8094.

An order form is available that provides prices and other ordering information. Information about all JCE publications (including abstracts, descriptions, updates) is available from our World Wide Web site.

Literature Cited

1. Banks, A. J.; Holmes, J. L. The Periodic Table CD-ROM [CD-ROM]; J. Chem. Educ. Software, 1995, SP 10.
2. Schatz, P. F., Moore, J. W.; Holmes, J. L.; Kotz, J. C. The Illustrated Periodic Table; J. Chem. Educ. Software, 1995, 2D, No. 2.
3. Kotz, J. C.; Young, S. Chemistry Navigator; J. Chem. Educ. Software, 1994, 6C, No. 2.
4. Banks, A. J.; Holmes, J. L.; Jacobsen, J. J.; Moore, J. W.; Schatz, P. F.; Tweedale, J.; Kotz, J. C.; Robinson, W. R.; Young, S. Periodic Table Live!, 2nd ed. [CD-ROM]; J. Chem. Educ. Software, 1999, SP17.