A significant student misconception involves distinguishing between the properties and characteristics of bonds and attractions(weak chemical forces).One manifestation of this misconception is the incorrect explanation for the evaporation of water.The majority of secondary students believe that the bubbles seen in boiling water consist of hydrogen and oxygen(1).This misconception extends deep into post high school chemical education.In a study by Mulford and Robinson(2)only 40% of 928 freshman enrolled in the first semester of science majors chemistry,identified the bubbles as water vapor in the pretest at the beginning of the course;in a post-test at the end of the course this increased to 47%.
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