Melting misconceptions

By David Read2012-01-01T13:29:00

Source: Foxys Forest Manufacture/Shutterstock

Distillate: David Read looks at recent chemical education research

Dissolving and melting are phenomena that children become familiar with very early on. However, in a study by Smith and Nakhleh, good reasoning regarding what is happening on a particle level is something which eludes even some postgraduate students. It is not surprising that students form misconceptions about these processes, as an accurate description requires detailed knowledge of complex concepts such as bonding and intermolecular forces. This article indicates that misconceptions can persist even in the minds of advanced students.

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