Potential energy plays an important, though often implicit, role in explaining interactions at the molecular level and in aiding predictions of energy changes associated with chemical processes.  In order to help general chemistry students develop a robust conceptual framework for potential energy, a broad understanding of how students' views of potential energy evolve across the chemistry curriculum is needed. Therefore, we developed an online questionnaire, which asked students to describe their understanding of the term potential energy, both in general and at the molecular level. The questionnaire was administered to general, organic, and physical chemistry students. Preliminary findings suggest that potential energy is not well understood at any level.  A novel learning progression for teaching energy in general chemistry will be discussed along with implications for presenting a more coherent view of energy in the chemistry curriculum.

Students' understanding of potential energy across the undergraduate chemistry curriculum

245th National Meeting (2013)

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