JCE Online Journal of Chemical Education
 | Subscriptions  | Software Orders  | Support  | Contributors  | Advertisers  | 

JCE Print
   Current Issue
 Previous Issues
 Supplements
 Search JCE Index

JCE Digital Library
   DigiDemos
 QBank
 SymMath
 WebWare

JCE Software
   Latest Releases
 Software & Video
 Downloads
 Support

Only@JCE Online
   JCE Online Store
 JCE HS CLIC
 JCE Discussion Forums
   Biographical Snapshots
 ChemEd Resource Shelf
 Featured Molecules
 Hal's Picks
 Project Chemlab
 Reviewed WWW Sites
 "Web-Ed" Articles

About JCE
   Features
 Publications
 Operations
 Outreach
 Contact Us


  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999  > October  >
Information • Textbooks • Media • Resources
Propagation of Errors in Freshman Chemistry Textbooks: A Case Study Using the Magnetic Moment of a Spinning Electron
John B. Vincent
Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0336
Cover
October 1999
Vol. 76 No. 10
p. 1460
Abstract
Most freshman chemistry textbooks include a figure illustrating the relationship between spinning electrons and the resultant magnetic field. However, some textbooks predict the direction of the magnetic moment using the left-hand rule, while others incorrectly use the right-hand rule. An examination of textbooks published during the last four decades reveals that reversal of the direction of the resultant magnetic field accompanied the introduction of these figures into freshman chemistry textbooks about 20 years ago. Since then, these illustrations have become increasingly popular; and while the error persists, its rate of occurrence has declined until most current textbooks have the direction of the magnetic field produced by a spinning electron correct.
More Information
*  Citation
 Vincent, John B. J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 1460.
*  Keywords
 History / Philosophy; Magnetic Properties; Textbooks; Writing in Chemistry
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 September 6, 1999
June 23, 2005
<< Previous Article Table of Contents Next Article >>
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999 > October > Page 1460


Subscriptions
 Subscription Info
 Order Forms

JCE HS CLIC

Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.
 JCE HS CLIC

Contributions Welcome
JCE welcomes your submission
 Contributors' Corner

Advertisers
In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first.
 Recent Advertisers

Be An Ambassador
Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants.
 Outreach with JCE

Comments to
jceonline@chem.wisc.edu		 Copyright © Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society.
All rights reserved.