<br/>Problem-solving is one of the inherent scientific practices in the field of chemistry. This cognitively demanding task requires solid conceptual knowledge and a higher level of information processing to solve problems effectively. In this study, we investigate how undergraduate students in organic chemistry II labs solve problems related to nuclear magnetic spectroscopy.<br/>This qualitative study was conducted from Fall 2020 to Fall 2022 in a research university in the southeastern united states. Students were recruited for the study via online announcements. Students were interviewed through WebEx, and a semi-structured interview protocol was used. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded qualitatively using NVivo 12 software to investigate students' problem-solving performance. Data was analyzed using the grounded theory approach with constant comparative coding. Herein, we present the preliminary results of our study. Findings from this study will suggest productive and unproductive problem-solving strategies of students when solving NMR questions and have implications on how instructors guide students to become successful problem-solvers.

NMR problem solving of undergraduate students in organic chemistry laboratory

ACS Spring 2022

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