Research on Student Difficulties in Understanding Chemical Reactions
ASSIGMNET 1 | Research on student difficulties in Understanding Chemical reactions | Misconceptions on Strength of Acids and Bases | | Mariyam Zaina, 015482 | |
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TITLE & INTRODUCTION
Title: Misconceptions on Strength of Acids and Bases
Researches shows that students often develops new theories about how the natural world works, prior to formal science education and frequently those theories are different to those of scientists(Demircioğlu et al., 2005). Students develop those scientific conceptions from many sources such as personal experiences (eg: observations), gender, peer interaction, media, language, symbolic representations, textbooks etc... In addition, sometimes teachers also serve as major sources for alternative conceptions (Chiu, 2005) and such self-constructed conceptions are referred as misconceptions. Misconceptions are ideas which are not in agreement with accepted scientific ideas (Demircioğlu et al., 2005). If students have misconceptions they are then likely to reject the scientist’s viewpoints, thus it would be very important for teachers to find about the misconceptions about the concepts to be taught (Khurshid & Iqbal, 2009)
It is known that secondary schools students found chemistry as one of the most difficult subjects and thus many students have difficulty in understanding the most basic concepts in the subject. Researches shows that students have lot of topic in chemistry with misconceptions and one such examined topic includes acids and bases (Demircioğlu et al., 2005).
Many studies show that students have a lot of complexity in understanding the right concepts in acids and bases. Some of them include that students often fail to give examples of weak acids and bases and also claims that pH is the tool more measuring acidity. And students often refer acids as chemicals that are corrosive or chemicals that eat away everything. Furthermore students think that the more hydrogen ions present in a
|
TITLE & INTRODUCTION
Title: Misconceptions on Strength of Acids and Bases
Researches shows that students often develops new theories about how the natural world works, prior to formal science education and frequently those theories are different to those of scientists(Demircioğlu et al., 2005). Students develop those scientific conceptions from many sources such as personal experiences (eg: observations), gender, peer interaction, media, language, symbolic representations, textbooks etc... In addition, sometimes teachers also serve as major sources for alternative conceptions (Chiu, 2005) and such self-constructed conceptions are referred as misconceptions. Misconceptions are ideas which are not in agreement with accepted scientific ideas (Demircioğlu et al., 2005). If students have misconceptions they are then likely to reject the scientist’s viewpoints, thus it would be very important for teachers to find about the misconceptions about the concepts to be taught (Khurshid & Iqbal, 2009)
It is known that secondary schools students found chemistry as one of the most difficult subjects and thus many students have difficulty in understanding the most basic concepts in the subject. Researches shows that students have lot of topic in chemistry with misconceptions and one such examined topic includes acids and bases (Demircioğlu et al., 2005).
Many studies show that students have a lot of complexity in understanding the right concepts in acids and bases. Some of them include that students often fail to give examples of weak acids and bases and also claims that pH is the tool more measuring acidity. And students often refer acids as chemicals that are corrosive or chemicals that eat away everything. Furthermore students think that the more hydrogen ions present in a
References: Acids, Bases and Salts.(2005). Retrieved on August 17, 2011 from http://www.krysstal.com/acidbase.html Acid Strength. (n.d). Retrieved on August 17, 2011 from http://media.rsc.org/Misconceptions/Miscon%20acid%20strength.pdf Chiu.,M.H. (2005). National Survey of Students’ Conceptions in chemistry in Taiwan. Retrieved on August 17, 2011 from http://old.iupac.org/publications/cei/vol6/07_Chiu.pdf Concept or Skills Development. (n.d). Retrieved on August 17, 2011 from http://www.okstate.edu/jgelder/acidPage25.html Demircioğlu.G., Ayas. A and Demircioğlu. H. (2005). Conceptual change achieved through a new teaching program on acids and bases. Retrieved on August 17, 2011 from http://www.rsc.org/images/p3_Demircioglu_tcm18-31135.pdf Khurshid., M and Iqbal., M. Z. (2009). Children’s Misconceptions about Units on Changes, Acids and Laboratory Preparation of CO2. Retrieved on August 17, 2011 from http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/ier/PDF-FILES/4-Childrens%20Misconceptions.pdf Strong and Weak Acids and Bases. (n.d). Retrieved on August 17, 2011 from http://www.sky-web.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Science/strongacids.htm William., R. (n.d). pKa Data. Retrieved on August 17, 2011 from http://research.chem.psu.edu/brpgroup/pKa_compilation.pdf