An example of an alternative conceptions reported in a scientist's writing:
"The first completed shell must consist of 2 electrons, the next two shells of 8 electrons each, and all following shells of 18 each."
George Gamow (1961) One, Two, Three…Infinity. Facts and speculations of science, Revised Edition, Dover Publications, Inc., New York.
This is a rather odd error for a physicist to make, although this topic confuses many learners as it is only in the first two shells that the shell become full before electrons start fulling the subsequent shell. (So an atom of potassium, configuration 2.8.8.1 , does not have a full third shell). The third shell only becomes full at 18 electrons (not 8), and the fourth shell at 32 electrons (not 18) and the fifth shell at 50 electrons (not 18).
Read about the nature of alternative conceptions
Read about some examples of science misconceptions
Read about historical scientific conceptions
