Structure of Matter – Diagnosis of Misconceptions and Challenge

Abstract

Students at schools and universities may know formulae and chemical equations, but are weak in mental models according the structure of metal- and salt crystals. Especially concerning ions as particles in solid salts or in salt solutions they show a lot of misconceptions, i.e. NaCl molecules in rock salt or Na-O-H molecules in sodium hydroxide solution. One way to challenge those misconceptions can be a periodic table containing symbols of atoms and ions on the base of Daltons atomic model, showing atoms and ions by spheres of different sizes. Combining metal atoms "left and left in PSE" to giant structures will show structures of pure metal crystals and alloys, combining nonmetal atoms "right and right in PSE" to molecules will show molecular structures of volatile substances, combining ions "left and right in PSE" will show ionic lattices of salt crystals. With those steps in early chemistry education the understanding of salts and electrolyte solutions will be scientifically correct – misconceptions should be minimized.