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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2001  > August  >
Research: Science and Education
Chemical Education Research
How Do Organic Chemistry Students Understand and Apply Hydrogen Bonding?
J. Henderleiter,* R. Smart, J. Anderson, and O. Elian
Department of Chemistry, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401-9403

Cover
August 2001
Vol. 78 No. 8
p. 1126

Abstract
Students completing a year-long organic chemistry sequence were interviewed to assess how they understood, explained, and applied knowledge of hydrogen bonding to the physical behavior of molecules. Students were asked to define hydrogen bonding and explain situations in which hydrogen bonding could occur. They were asked to predict and explain how hydrogen bonding influences boiling point, the solubility of molecules, and NMR and IR spectra. Results suggest that although students may be able to give appropriate definitions of hydrogen bonding and may recognize when this phenomenon can occur, significant numbers cannot apply their knowledge of hydrogen bonding to physical properties of molecules or to the interpretation of spectral data. Some possess misconceptions concerning boiling points and the ability of molecules to induce hydrogen bonding. Instructional strategies must be adjusted to address these issues.
More Information
*  Citation
Henderleiter, J.; Smart, R.; Anderson, J.; Elian, O. J. Chem. Educ. 2001 78 1126.
*  Keywords
CER Qualitative Methods; Chemical Education Research; Intermolecular Forces; Organic Chemistry; Teaching/Learning Theory/Practice
*  History
Created:
Last Updated:
July 10, 2001
August 31, 2005
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2001 > August > Page 1126


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