A topic in learners' conceptions and thinking
There is a vast literature reporting on alternative conceptions ('misconceptions') in science, so this list is far from comprehensive, but offers an indication of the range of alternative ideas that have been reported.
Read about alternative conceptions
Read about common alternative conceptions
acids
- mineral acids have pH1
- neutralisation leads to neutral products
- strong acids have pH1
- the pH scale measures acid strength
atoms, ions and molecules
- all substances are built from molecules
- an atom or ion with a full outer shell cannot be ionised
- an atom or ion with an outer shell octet cannot be ionised
- argon and xenon atoms have completed electronic shells
- atoms with eight electrons have full outer shells
- half of a magnesium atom would be a small piece of coal
- ions with eight outer shell electrons are more stable than the neutral atoms
- ions with full outer shell electrons are more stable than the neutral atoms
- molecule returns to original position when molten sample is re-frozen
- noble gases have the highest ionisation enthalpies because their atoms have full shells
- noble gases have the highest ionisation enthalpies because their atoms have outer shell octets of electrons
- potassium permanganate dissolves as molecules
- sodium and chlorine atoms form regular salt crystals
- sodium chloride dissolves as NaCl ion-pairs
- sodium chloride dissolves as NaCl molecules
- sound is propagated instantaneously through solid air particles
- third electron shell is filled by 8 electrons
biochemistry
cells
chemical bonding
- chemical bonds store energy
- ionic bonding is formed by the transfer of electrons
- ionic bonding is stronger than covalent bonding
- ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons between atoms
- iron oxide is molecular
chemical change (reactions)
- burning sulphur divides it into smaller sulphur particles
- chemical reactions occur to give atoms full outer shells
- chemical reactions occur to give atoms outer shell octets
- in chemical equilibrium there is the same amount of reactants and products
- neutralisation leads to neutral products
- sodium atom electron goes to a chlorine atom to form a molecule
Earth
- Freon caused a hole in the ozone layer
- oxygen makes the sky blue
- summer occurs when the Earth is nearest the Sun
- there is a discrete but incomplete layer of ozone in the atmosphere
electricity
energy
- adenosine triphosphate is biochemical energy
- chemosynthesis creates energy
- energy is not conserved in nuclear processes
- exercising gives you energy
- half a gramme of mass turned into energy at Hiroshima
evolution and natural selection
- acquired characteristics are inherited
- species make reasoned choices to change lifestyle and behaviours
fluids
force and motion
- a force is needed to maintain motion
- an orbiting object is subject to a repulsive centrifugal force
- an orbiting object is subject to balanced forces
- black hole sucks in space like a drain hole sucks in water
- circular motion does not need a force
- forces acting on an object are always equal and opposite
genes and inheritance
magnetism
microbes
- bacteria are bad
- bacterium is not much larger than the molecules colliding with it
- microbes behave deliberately
