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One of the fundamental aspects of chemistry learning is to visualize chemical structures. Through the application of Alex Johnstone's (1991) multilevel thought, the submicroscopic level is often a challenge for students, especially the shift between 2D and 3D, i.e., spatial thinking or spatial ability (Harle & Towns, 2011). With small molecules, plastic ball-and-stick models are commonly used, but on university level, the structures are often larger. By applying digital tools and techniques, as Virtual Reality (VR), there are less limitations in size to represent molecules, and even large structures and reaction mechanisms can be explored (Won et al., 2019). In a five-year design-based research project (Anderson & Shattuck, 2012), a collaboration between university chemistry teachers and a chemistry education researcher, has had an aim to develop university chemistry students' spatial thinking.

Students and teachers have, in workshops and tutorials, applied VR with both simple and more advanced tools, see figures 1 and 2. Empirical data has been collected using surveys, interviews, and observations. Standard ethical considerations have been considered throughout the whole project.

In this presentation, students' cognitive and affective learning related to spatial thinking will be discussed, as well as students', teachers', and researcher’s perspectives from the application of VR to visualize chemistry will be elaborated further. Implications for chemistry teaching at all levels will also be explored.