Hybridization of atomic orbitals to form hybrid orbitals is a tough concept for students to grasp. Until recently, instructors have been limited to how they could illustrate this abstract model. Predominantly static 2-dimensional images have been used. More creative methods utilized balloons or toothpicks and marshmallows to help students with the 3-dimensional aspects. With the widespread availability of touch-screen devices and the rise in use of online textbooks, Alchemie saw the opportunity to develop a hybridization explorer. This explorer has three modes, present, explore, and assess. In the present mode, students are able to view atomic or hybrid orbitals and rotate them. In the explore mode, students choose atomic orbitals then select hybridize to morph into a visual of resulting hybrid orbitals. In the assess mode students are given various prompts and have to form the correct hybrid orbital in response. The goal of this interactive is to lead to a more intuitive understanding of the geometrical and bonding explanations that result from hybridization theory. In this poster, the features of the hybridization explorer will be presented. Additionally, initial research into the impacts of the explorer on student understanding will be presented.

From the abstract to manipulable: Impacts of a touch-screen based hybridization explorer

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.