The image of water shown to the right is a "live" Jmol model.
You can control the model with your mouse. With the cursor on the model, hold down the mouse button and drag.
Jmol is a free, open source molecular viewer for students, educators, and researchers in chemistry and biochemistry. It is cross-platform, running on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux/Unix systems. The model shown above is an integrated browser applet called the JmolApplet. The JmolApplet allows for the real-time manipulation of the molecular model displayed. No special hardware is required for Jmol. The only requirement is to have a Java compatible web browser and have Java installed on the computer.
Basic manipulation of the model is achieved by placing the cursor over the model, clicking and holding the mouse button while dragging the mouse in the direction of desired rotation. Practice with the model of water above.
Zoom is the ability to inlarge or decrease the size of the molecule within the bounds of the JmolApplet window.
Zoom is accomplished by using the center mouse button on the PC. With the center button depressed moving the mouse in the forward (upward) direction decreases the model size, while moving backward causes an increase. On the Macintosh zoom is invoked by simultaneously depressing the "option" key while "click-hold-dragging" [opt-click] the mouse on the model window.
Translation is the ability to move the location of the molecule within the JmolApplet window.
Translation is invoked on the PC by simultaneously depressing the control and alternate keys while using the left mouse button [ctrl-alt-click]. Currently there does not appear to be a way to invoke translation on the Macintosh.
There is much more to learn about Jmol. Use the selection menu on the right to further explore how to control the JmolApplet.