It is often confusing for introductory chemistry students to differentiate between molar mass, atomic mass, and mass number as well as to conceptually understand these ideas beyond a surface level. One way to improve understanding is to integrate the concepts, articulate their relationships, and present them in a meaningful sequence. The integrated conception, what is described as the "atomic mass conception", involves the description and sequencing of these three concepts based upon IUPAC terminology and findings from educational researchers. The sequencing and detail of these concepts run counter to how these three ideas are presented in popular textbooks.
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Citation
DeMeo, Stephen. J. Chem. Educ.2006 83 617.
Keywords
Curriculum; Descriptive Chemistry; Enrichment / Review Materials; First-Year Undergraduate / General; High School / Introductory Chemistry; History / Philosophy; Misconceptions / Discrepant Events; Nomenclature / Units / Symbols; Physical Properties; Textbooks / Reference Books
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