Students’ misconceptions covalent bonding

O Raymond F. Peterson and David F. Treagust, "Grade-12 Students Misconceptions of Covalent Bonding and Structure," /. 

Peterson, R.F., Treagust, D.F. Grade-12 students misconceptions of covalent bonding. Journal of Chemical Education 66 (1989), 459... 

This explanation is difficult to visualise and is not usually discussed with students in introductory chemistry. However it is important that students appreciate that neutral molecules wiU attract together (Chapter 2) because of the charges present, even if no details are offered. This will help to avoid the common misconceptions that so-called molecular solids have covalent bonds throughout, and the corollary that, as many of these substances melt readily when in the solid state, covalent bonds are often quite weak. 

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