Identifying Misconceptions that Limit Student Understanding of Molecular Orbital Diagrams
Molecular orbital diagrams are commonly taught and used for describing chemical bonding chemistry courses including courses at the college level. Misconceptions that occur when students construct and/or use these diagrams are difficult to anticipate, diminish the diagram utility, and limit student l...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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ICASE
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Science Education International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.icaseonline.net/journal/index.php/sei/article/view/127 |
| _version_ | 1828338736358752256 |
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| author | Judith L. Jenkins Bradley T. Shoopman |
| author_facet | Judith L. Jenkins Bradley T. Shoopman |
| author_sort | Judith L. Jenkins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Molecular orbital diagrams are commonly taught and used for describing chemical bonding chemistry courses including courses at the college level. Misconceptions that occur when students construct and/or use these diagrams are difficult to anticipate, diminish the diagram utility, and limit student learning. In this exploratory study, a combination of think-aloud activities and written probes was used to identify misconceptions that persist into upper-level college chemistry courses. While the majority of students could properly construct molecular orbital diagrams, many struggled to use and interpret the resulting diagrams. Pronounced disconnects between the depiction of chemical bonds and how these depictions demonstrate molecular properties such as stability and reactivity were observed, informing strategic curricular interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:33:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe7c4c60732047d19abec2be5cb4e876 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-2327 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:33:02Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | ICASE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Science Education International |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe7c4c60732047d19abec2be5cb4e8762022-12-22T02:26:52ZengICASEScience Education International2077-23272019-08-0130315215710.33828/sei.v30.i3.1Identifying Misconceptions that Limit Student Understanding of Molecular Orbital DiagramsJudith L. Jenkins0Bradley T. Shoopman1Department of Chemistry, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, United States of AmericaDepartment of Chemistry, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, United States of AmericaMolecular orbital diagrams are commonly taught and used for describing chemical bonding chemistry courses including courses at the college level. Misconceptions that occur when students construct and/or use these diagrams are difficult to anticipate, diminish the diagram utility, and limit student learning. In this exploratory study, a combination of think-aloud activities and written probes was used to identify misconceptions that persist into upper-level college chemistry courses. While the majority of students could properly construct molecular orbital diagrams, many struggled to use and interpret the resulting diagrams. Pronounced disconnects between the depiction of chemical bonds and how these depictions demonstrate molecular properties such as stability and reactivity were observed, informing strategic curricular interventions.http://www.icaseonline.net/journal/index.php/sei/article/view/127chemistrychemical bondingconstructivismmisconceptions |
| spellingShingle | Judith L. Jenkins Bradley T. Shoopman Identifying Misconceptions that Limit Student Understanding of Molecular Orbital Diagrams Science Education International chemistry chemical bonding constructivism misconceptions |
| title | Identifying Misconceptions that Limit Student Understanding of Molecular Orbital Diagrams |
| title_full | Identifying Misconceptions that Limit Student Understanding of Molecular Orbital Diagrams |
| title_fullStr | Identifying Misconceptions that Limit Student Understanding of Molecular Orbital Diagrams |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying Misconceptions that Limit Student Understanding of Molecular Orbital Diagrams |
| title_short | Identifying Misconceptions that Limit Student Understanding of Molecular Orbital Diagrams |
| title_sort | identifying misconceptions that limit student understanding of molecular orbital diagrams |
| topic | chemistry chemical bonding constructivism misconceptions |
| url | http://www.icaseonline.net/journal/index.php/sei/article/view/127 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT judithljenkins identifyingmisconceptionsthatlimitstudentunderstandingofmolecularorbitaldiagrams AT bradleytshoopman identifyingmisconceptionsthatlimitstudentunderstandingofmolecularorbitaldiagrams |