Since I first published this post on accessible Periodic Tables for low vision in 2017, there have been several new free and low-cost options that have been introduced for students that use large print, text-to-speech/screen readers, dual media, and other types of assistive technology. I’m excited to see that large print Periodic Table designs have come a long way in terms of portability and ease of access, especially since my first large print Periodic Table was printed on a shower curtain! Here is a list of accessible Periodic Table options for visually impaired students, with options for low vision, blind/nonvisual access, and design elements that can support students with CVI (cortical visual impairment/neurological visual impairment).
Why I recommend web applications
The vast majority of accessible Periodic Table options listed in this post are web applications, which can be accessed from any web browser and do not require students to download a specific app in order to access content. Alternatively, I’ve also included files that can be imported or sideloaded into other applications for reading. This is because a lot of the mobile applications I had used over the years are no longer in development, and I want to provide a platform agnostic option that can be accessed from a Windows computer, an iPad, a Chromebook, or whatever tool that a student might be using in their classroom. Students can always bookmark web applications and add them to a taskbar, home screen, or as a digital bookmark for easy access, similar to a mobile application.
Since students may not have consistent internet access, I have also included links to data files such as accessible PDFs, CSV files that can be imported into another application, and HTML files that can be saved to a computer and opened in a web browser without an internet connection.
Related links
- Helpful Ways To Bookmark Websites For Low Vision Users
- Free Digital Bookmarking Tools For Low Vision
- How To Organize Apps On iPad With Low Vision
PubChem Periodic Table of Elements
The National Library of Medicine’s PubChem website includes a free interactive/accessible Periodic Table of Elements that provides a high level of detail about individual elements, including color-coded tables, options to sort through a list of elements, and detailed information about elements that links to sources within the PubChem website, which is maintained by the National Institute of Health. I like that there are multiple options for color-coding, and it can be downloaded/bookmarked as a web application for easy access.
Related links
Creating a DIY Periodic Table booklet
The first accessible Periodic Table I ever used in the classroom was the APH Periodic Table booklet, which was printed with dual media content (large print/braille) and approved for state standardized testing. This book is no longer manufactured, but years later I was working with a student who was looking for a way to display Periodic Table content in a single-column layout that could also be color-coded, similar to the book I had used.
Using the PubChem Periodic Table of Elements list, a DIY Periodic Table of the Elements eBook and physical booklet was created that included the same information provided on the Periodic Table poster for the rest of the class, including the element name, symbol, atomic mass, atomic number, standard state, and its group block. The elements themselves were listed in chronological order based on atomic number, and the information was typed out in the student’s preferred font size and style, with colored highlighting added to indicate the group block for a particular element.
Since the Periodic Table layout itself was visually complex for this student, the single-column layout was easier for them to read and they could navigate the document using a search tool if needed. For class assignments presented in a digital format, the teacher would create a hyperlink within the question that would display a copy of the same page from the student’s booklet so they didn’t have to search to find a specific element.
Related links
- Reading Bookshare Titles With Microsoft Word
- Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word
- How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
Viewing the Periodic Table as a CSV
Some students find it easier to navigate data shared in a .csv file format, which they can copy or open with another program. The PubChem Periodic Table of Elements can be exported as a CSV file and contains detailed information about each element that can be used for filtering or grouping specific categories of data.
For standardized tests like the Virginia Standards of Learning, a specific Periodic Table PDF is supplied to all students. Since this can be challenging to navigate, I converted the information supplied from this Periodic Table PDF into a .csv file that is linked below and can be used by students with visual impairments. I’ve also included it as a HTML table for convenience, which displays information for each element in a single row.
Related links
- Periodic Table of Elements (nih.gov): select Download link
- PubChem CSV
- Virginia SOL Periodic Table of Elements CSV (2023)
- Virginia SOL Periodic Table of Elements HTML (2023)
- VA Periodic Table of the Elements (virginia.gov)
Independence Science Periodic Table
Independence Science offers two accessible Periodic Table options that can be used with screen magnification and screen readers. One option is the “standard” Periodic Table that displays black text on a white background, with each cell displaying the atomic number, chemical symbol, and atomic mass rounded to two decimal places. This Periodic Table is also mirrored on the Americal Chemical Society website.
The second option is the Accessible Audible Periodic Table, which has five different tables that each show a specific property alongside the chemical symbol and atomic number. Yellow text is displayed against a black background with additional color-coding for element categories.
For each table, the chemical symbol and atomic number are displayed alongside the following information:
- Atomic mass
- Atomic radius
- Electron affinity
- Electronegativity
- Ionization energy
When selecting an element, an organ note will play that corresponds to the value of the displayed property, providing an option for audio tracing across the Periodic Table.
Related links
- Independence Science Periodic Table of the Elements
- Accessible Periodic Table of Elements – American Chemical Society (acs.org)
- Accessible Audible Periodic Table
McGraw-Hill Accessible PDF Periodic Table
Not all PDF Periodic Tables are created with accessibility or screen reader access in mind, as many PDFs include scanned images that have no text elements. However, McGraw-Hill offers a free accessible Periodic Table that can be downloaded as a PDF and saved to the student’s device, which also includes color-coding and clear fonts that can be magnified at a high resolution. For students that have trouble viewing the text against colored backgrounds, I recommend turning on invert colors for their display.
Related links
- Accessible Periodic Table of the Elements (mheducation.com)
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
- How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology
Royal Society of Chemistry online Periodic Table
Another free online Periodic Table that can be used with assistive technology is the Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Table, which is organized similar to PubChem and includes additional graphics, videos, and visual element displays that incorporate photos and realistic images. The use of photos and realistic images may be helpful for learners with CVI who have more difficulty with accessing abstract images.
Related links
- Periodic Table – Royal Society of Chemistry (rsc.org)
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
Web Elements Accessible Periodic Table
The Web Elements Periodic Table displays chemical elements arranged by atomic number, with bright color-coded squares and hyperlinks for reading about additional element details. Many elements also include photos and self-voicing (text-to-speech) descriptions of each element.
Related links
Large print Periodic Table
Unlike the other accessible Periodic Table options on this list, this large print Periodic Table created by TSVI Jeannette Norman and shared on Perkins School for the Blind’s Paths to Technology blog is available for printing. The printed document measures about 11 inches by 30 inches, and can be downloaded for free using the link below.
Related links
SAS Periodic Table
The SAS Periodic Table has a very minimalist design compared to other accessible Periodic Table resources on this page, displaying only the chemical symbol. When an element is selected, a new tab will open with the Wikipedia entry for the corresponding element for further research. The SAS Periodic Table is fully accessible for screen reader users, and can be used to conduct research on a specific element.
Related links
More resources on accessible Periodic Table options for low vision
- Voice assistants like Siri, Google, and Amazon Alexa can answer questions about the Periodic Table, either by having the user verbally ask questions or typing questions and listening to a response (for Google and Siri). Learn more in How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Study For Exams
- Looking for tips on including students with visual impairments in science lessons? Read Science Labs and Low Vision and How To Describe Science Experiments For Visually Impaired Students
- I prefer to read the Periodic Table on my iPad or a tablet, because I can adjust the viewing angle underneath the bifocal of my glasses and use pinch-to-zoom or other gestures. Learn more about iPad accessibility in How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision
- Want more science posts? Browse Science And Math Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published October 11, 2017. Updated March 2025