Molecular Orbital Misconceptions
Presenter Hometown
Mount Vernon Ky
Major
Chemistry Education
Department
Chemistry
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Judith L. Jenkins
Mentor Department
Chemistry
Recommended Citation
Burton, Shanlee A.; Spurlock, Angel D.; and Jenkins, Judith L., "Molecular Orbital Misconceptions" (2017). University Presentation Showcase Event. 13.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2017/undergraduate/13
Abstract
Because atoms and molecules cannot be individually perceived by the human eye, many different models are used when teaching students fundamental chemical concepts such as chemical bonding. While no model is a perfect representation of the natural phenomena, each model is useful. Molecular Orbital Theory (MO Theory) is an advanced model for chemical bonding commonly taught in upper-division chemistry courses. As students learn this theory, they scaffold their understandings to older knowledge, which can in some cases, result in misconceptions. Elucidating these misconceptions is critically important for further application of molecular orbital theory, and is the focus of the work described here. For this project, data from 12 students in an Inorganic Chemistry at class Eastern Kentucky University were analyzed to address possible student misconceptions about MO Theory. The data was collected through a three-part question worked by students individually. Students were instructed to describe their thoughts as they answered the question. Additionally, students rated their confidence in their answers. Transcripts of the verbal descriptions as well as the written answers were first analyzed independently by each author and then compared. The third part of the question, a higher-level Bloom’s question which required students to assess relative stability of molecules using MO Theory, proved to be the most challenging and revealed the most misconceptions. Answers varied on this question with only 33% of the 12 students correctly answering. Strategies for future instruction will be discussed.
Keywords: Molecular Orbital Theory; Bond Order; Bonding; Antibonding
Presentation format
Poster
Poster Number
053
Molecular Orbital Misconceptions
Because atoms and molecules cannot be individually perceived by the human eye, many different models are used when teaching students fundamental chemical concepts such as chemical bonding. While no model is a perfect representation of the natural phenomena, each model is useful. Molecular Orbital Theory (MO Theory) is an advanced model for chemical bonding commonly taught in upper-division chemistry courses. As students learn this theory, they scaffold their understandings to older knowledge, which can in some cases, result in misconceptions. Elucidating these misconceptions is critically important for further application of molecular orbital theory, and is the focus of the work described here. For this project, data from 12 students in an Inorganic Chemistry at class Eastern Kentucky University were analyzed to address possible student misconceptions about MO Theory. The data was collected through a three-part question worked by students individually. Students were instructed to describe their thoughts as they answered the question. Additionally, students rated their confidence in their answers. Transcripts of the verbal descriptions as well as the written answers were first analyzed independently by each author and then compared. The third part of the question, a higher-level Bloom’s question which required students to assess relative stability of molecules using MO Theory, proved to be the most challenging and revealed the most misconceptions. Answers varied on this question with only 33% of the 12 students correctly answering. Strategies for future instruction will be discussed.
Keywords: Molecular Orbital Theory; Bond Order; Bonding; Antibonding
