Orbitals in general chemistry, Part III: Consequences for Teaching

 

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Lamoureux Lamontagne, Guy, Ogilvie, John F.
Format: artículo original
Publication Date:2021
Description:In Part III of this series, we undertake a critique of the nature of application of orbitals to describe or to explain the structure and the binding within molecules and materials. Teaching orbitals in introductory chemistry presents five dilemmas that cannot be easily resolved. We thus conclude, based on mathematical realties, that orbitals are not essential until advanced courses. Even in advanced courses, we question the traditional choice of presenting an inadequate set of orbitals. When one recognizes, in a context of general chemistry, the irrelevance of orbitals as algebraic formulae to the observable properties and reactions of chemical substances, one can readily proceed to teach appropriate content effectively without invoking orbitals or analogous entities, based on our actual experience in teaching general chemistry over the years.
Country:Kérwá
Institution:Universidad de Costa Rica
Repositorio:Kérwá
Language:Inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:kerwa.ucr.ac.cr:10669/86892
Online Access:http://quimicanova.sbq.org.br/detalhe_artigo.asp?id=9213
https://hdl.handle.net/10669/86892
Keyword:Teaching general chemistry
Orbitals
Quantum mechanics
Molecular structure