Imagine putting on a headset, picking up a 3D-printed lab tool, and suddenly you’re in a virtual chemistry lab- pouring colorful liquids, watching reactions bubble and swirl, all without spilling a drop. That’s not science fiction anymore. At Arizona State University, researchers have created a “mixed-reality” chemistry lab that blends the real world with the digital one.
In a recent experiment, students used a 3D-printed burette- a tool chemists use for titrations- that connected to a computer simulation. When students turned the real valve, the digital liquid moved in the virtual flask. They could watch the chemical reaction happen on screen, just like in a real lab, but with no mess or danger.
The researchers wanted to see if this new kind of setup actually helped students learn chemistry better. The results were fascinating: students who already had some chemistry experience learned even more with the mixed-reality setup. But beginners, who were still figuring out the basics, did better with the simpler version on a regular computer screen. That means the kind of tools we use to learn science might need to match where we are in our learning journey.
What makes this so exciting is how it could change the way chemistry is taught. Schools that don’t have full lab spaces or expensive equipment could still give students the experience of “doing chemistry,” not just reading about it. You can twist a valve, watch molecules react, and understand what’s happening- all while sitting in a classroom or even at home.
It’s a powerful reminder that chemistry isn’t only about memorizing formulas or mixing real chemicals. It’s about understanding how things work- and technology is opening new ways to do that. Whether you’re a future scientist or just someone curious about how the world works, the chemistry classroom of tomorrow might not look like the one you know today. It might be part real, part virtual, and completely amazing.
Works Cited
Johnson-Glenberg, M. C., Yu, C. S. P., Liu, F., Amador, C., Bao, Y., Yu, S., & LiKamWa, R. (2023). Embodied mixed reality with passive haptics in STEM education: randomized control study with chemistry titration. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 4:1047833. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2023.1047833
Amador, C., Liu, F. W., Johnson-Glenberg, M. C., & LiKamWa, R. (2020). Work-in-Progress: Titration Experiment — Virtual Reality Chemistry Lab with Haptic Burette. In D. Economou et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 6th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN 2020), 363-365. IEEE. https://doi.org/10.23919/iLRN47897.2020.9155209
Arizona State University. (2023, October 13). A new class of chemistry experiments. ASU News. Retrieved from https://news.asu.edu/20231013-discoveries-new-class-chemistry-experiments
Meteor Studio, Arizona State University. (n.d.). Mixed Reality Virtual Titration Experiment. Retrieved from https://meteor.ame.asu.edu/projects/titration/
