Diffusion reactions, Turing patterns and self-organisation in chemical systems. From Gray-Scott to morphogenesis — complexity from simplified equations.
The Chemistry & Materials category covers how matter behaves from the atomic scale up to bulk solids: molecular dynamics, acid-base equilibria, reaction kinetics, crystal growth, electrochemistry, phase transitions and the diffusion patterns that shape both living tissue and engineered alloys. By adjusting temperature, concentration, diffusion rates and lattice parameters in real time, you build genuine chemical intuition for why reactions speed up, why buffers resist pH change, why metals fatigue and crack, and how spots and stripes self-organise without any central plan. Every model runs instantly in your browser on WebGL or Canvas, with no installation, so you can experiment safely and as often as you like — ideal for A-Level, IB, undergraduate study or simply satisfying curiosity about the chemistry and materials science behind the everyday world.
Chemical and material systems in real time
Self-organisation — systems without central control form complex structures through local interactions. Tiger spots, zebra stripes, coral mazes — all described by the shared mathematical framework of Turing reaction-diffusion.
The science behind the simulations
Articles and tutorials about the algorithms in this category
Atoms, reactions, diffusion, and molecular dynamics — in the browser
Chemistry simulations model matter at the atomic and molecular level. Lennard-Jones molecular dynamics place particles in a periodic box and integrate Newton's equations under pair potentials, revealing gas, liquid, and solid states as you vary temperature. Reaction-diffusion systems simulate the Gray–Scott equations that underpin Turing pattern formation and the oscillating Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction.
These simulations bridge physical chemistry and computational modelling. Adjusting temperature, density, or diffusion coefficients lets you observe phase transitions, concentration gradients, and self-organising chemical waves. The same Lennard-Jones potential is used in protein folding research; the same reaction-diffusion framework models morphogen gradients in developmental biology. Exploring them interactively is the fastest way to build chemical intuition.
Chemistry simulations bridge the gap between the microscopic and macroscopic worlds. Molecular dynamics is used professionally to study protein folding, drug-receptor binding, and material fatigue at the atomic level. Reaction-diffusion models explain the formation of animal coat patterns, coral reef branching, and chemical oscillators like the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. These interactive models make quantum-level phenomena accessible without a chemistry laboratory.
Topics and algorithms you'll explore in this category
5 questions — elements, reactions, bonds and more
Common questions about this simulation category
Each Chemistry & Materials simulation turns abstract equations into a living, tweakable picture: an interactive Chemistry & Materials model lets you change temperature, concentration or lattice settings and watch phase transitions, titration curves and Turing patterns respond at once. Whether you revise for exams or research material behaviour, you can learn Chemistry & Materials online for free, with no installation. The same molecular-dynamics and reaction-diffusion methods power real-world work such as drug design, battery development and predicting metal fatigue in aircraft and bridges.