the Alexander Arrangement of the Elements

This improvement for learning and using the periodic table was originated by a museum science exhibit designer, Roy Alexander, to eliminate the confusion and apparent inconsistencies in the flat table by arranging the elements contiguously and continuously according to the atomic number without disturbing the accepted group and property interrelationships previously found in the periodic chart.

The resulting 3-D form (see photo at left, the Display version of the AAE) has three parts looping outwards from a relatively central point. The elements in Groups 0, Ia, IIa, IIIb, IVb, Vb, and VIIIb are in the narrowest and tallest part, which forms a tube in the upper part, topped by a `crown' of Hydrogen. From the lower part of this component the sides branch to a more lengthy loop showing groups IIIa, IVa, Va, VIa, VIIa, VIII, Ib, and IIb. From the lower half of this, a third, and longest loop protrudes, the f-block. Printed as a flat sheet, it is easily assembled into a 3-D model by teacher or student. All element data, therefore, have a common plane so the elements can be traced by their electron numbers without changing direction or leaving the surface.

The successive period connections are achieved by a downward helix in the first of the three component loops (see photo at right, of the DeskTopper) This is the major factor in the U.S. Patent.

The most useful feature for teaching new students - aside from the motivation gained by the unique & attractive shape - is the significant integration of the Rare Earth and Transition elements (see photo at left with student entered data on a Student Interactive version of the AAE), usually found in a remote location on standard charts. During Glenn Seaborg's work on nuclear energy in the Manhattan Project during WWII he first placed the then new radioactive elements in a separate location. Before he died he had an Alexander Arrangement and determined that this 3-D method was now the correct way to show the Rare Earths.

Including these three main improvements, the patented Alexander Arrangement of the Elements is the first periodic table that is a learning aid in a natural, logical form of unprecedented clarity.

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the Alexander Arrangement of the Elements Description

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