When push comes to shove: Student development of arrow-pushing formalism (APF) skills

CHED 359

Jason P. Anderson, andersoj@purdue.edu and George M. Bodner, gmbodner@purdue.edu. Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Organic chemistry is a highly conceptual subject that students generally find difficult to follow as it presents various unique skills, symbolisms, and conventions. One of the most problematic of these conventions is the arrow-pushing formalism (APF) used in describing reaction mechanisms. The research program described in this paper outlines our recent efforts to explore the development of students' mechanistic problem-solving skills, the role that the APF plays, and how meaning for this formalism is constructed.
 

Research in Chemical Education
8:30 AM-12:15 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Seaport -- Constitution Room, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007