Abstract
Letter To The EditorResponse to “Chemistry misconceptions associated with understanding calcium and phosphate homeostasis”David S. GoldfarbDavid S. GoldfarbNephrology Section, New York Harbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Urology, St. Vincent's Hospital, and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New YorkPublished Online:01 Mar 2010https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00003.2010MoreSectionsPDF (31 KB)Download PDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesGet permissionsTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailWeChat I enjoyed Dr. Cliff's “conceptual diagnostic test” regarding calcium phosphate equilibrium and was relieved that I chose the correct answers (1). Question 2 was the more difficult one, and I hesitated before almost answering it incorrectly. Dr. Cliff asks what would happen if more calcium phosphate is added to a beaker containing calcium, phosphate, and calcium phosphate “at equilibrium.” His answer states the question differently: “Only 11% of the students correctly answered the conceptual diagnostic question about the addition of solid calcium phosphate to a saturated [emphasis added] solution of calcium phosphate.” The question did not specify that the solution was saturated but that it was “at equilibrium.” It is not simply a question about understanding “mass action.” One also needs to realize that the solvent is saturated if a solid in the solvent is at equilibrium. That is an additional concept itself and, when not made explicit, might explain why only 11% of the students answered it correctly.REFERENCE1 Cliff WH. Chemistry misconceptions associated with understanding calcium and phosphate homeostasis. Adv Physiol Educ 33: 323–328, 2009.Link | ISI | Google ScholarAUTHOR NOTESAddress for reprint requests and other correspondence: D. S. Goldfarb, Nephrology Sect./111G, New York Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 423 E. 23 St., New York, NY 10010 (e-mail: David.[email protected]gov). Download PDF Previous Back to Top FiguresReferencesRelatedInformationCited ByWhat Is the Best Method to Evaluate Urine pH? A Trial of Three Urinary pH Measurement Methods in a Stone ClinicJournal of Endourology, Vol. 29, No. 1 More from this issue > Volume 34Issue 1March 2010Pages 23-23 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2010 The American Physiological Societyhttps://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00003.2010PubMed20237232History Published online 1 March 2010 Published in print 1 March 2010 Metrics
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
