Previous research has documented a gap in students' understanding of gas behavior between the algorithmic–macroscopic level and the conceptual–microscopic level. A coherent understanding of both levels is needed to appreciate the difference in properties of different gases, which is not manifest in the ideal gas law. A demonstration that concurrently exposes both the difference and similarity in the behavior of two different gases was designed for this purpose. Instructions for performing the demonstration in an interactive manner are given. The theory of "knowledge in pieces" is used to analyze students' active participation and justify the proposed delivery method.
More Information
Citation
Ashkenazi, Guy. J. Chem. Educ.2008, 85, 72.
Keywords
Demonstrations; First-Year Undergraduate / General; Gases; High School / Introductory Chemistry; Kinetics; Learning Theories; Misconceptions / Discrepant Events; Physical Chemistry
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.
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.
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.