ORBITALS IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY, PART III: CONSEQUENCES FOR TEACHING

AUTOR(ES)

Lamoureux, Guy; F. Ogilvie, John

FONTE

Quím. Nova

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2021-03

RESUMO

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.

Documentos Relacionados

• ORBITALS IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY, PART II: MATHEMATICAL REALITIES
• ORBITALS IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY, PART I: THE GREAT DEBATE
• HYBRID ATOMIC ORBITALS IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. PART 1: CRITIQUE OF FORMAL ASPECTS
• HYBRID ATOMIC ORBITALS IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. PART 2: CRITIQUE OF PRACTICAL ASPECTS
• RHEUMATISM IN COAL MINERS: PART III: OCCUPATIONAL FACTORS