The 3D PERIODIC TABLE

Before the recent rediscovery of the three–dimensional periodic chart, the conventional flat periodic table served generations of students and chemists well, providing the basis, not only for the introduction to understanding chemistry, but a guide throughout the career of chemists, biologists, and teachers.

In spite of it's usefulness, difficulties in learning and using it have led to many efforts to improve the table. The elements have been placed in circles & spirals, duplicated elements, step–pyramids, trees, and target shapes with extensions. They have been formed into three–dimensional cubes, pyramids, stacks, even teardrops. Several have excelled the standard periodic table for accuracy and suitability in highly technical ways.

Falling partially within the spiral category, but primarily a helix, the 3D arrangement of the original de Chancourtois' chemical element arrangement was rediscovered by Roy Alexander in 1965, patented, and models first published in the mid–1990s. It, M.Courtines', and George Gamov's, are the first modern element arrangement models to retain all the positive features of the flat table while removing ALL discontinuities and displacements in the order of the elements. The most recent publication of the AAE, called the Forever, showcases the marvelous element photographs of Theodore Gray on a model (made from a kit) that also abbreviates the element list to those that exist now.

This 3D form, seen in a development of the AAE DeskTopper above, has the added feature of clearly defining for beginning students the new conclusions regarding the dimensional aspects of hydrogen, atomic structure, and of nature itself.

This modern periodic table is called the Alexander Arrangement of Elements.

A brief look at the dimensionality of periodic table design