Alternative conceptions on gases by freshmen students from Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry at UFS / Campus São Cristóvão.

Authors

  • Josenildo Cabral Silva Universidade Federal de Sergipe
  • João Paulo Mendonça Lima Universidade Federal de Sergipe
  • Kleber Bergamaski Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Keywords:

alternative conceptions, gas, chemistry teaching.

Abstract

The current paper presents the identification and understanding of alternative conceptions on gases by freshmen students from Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry at the Federal University of Sergipe, Campus São Cristóvão. The subjects are students attending the second semester of the first year in Chemistry. The data was collected by means of questionnaires in 2013/2 and 2014/2 academic semesters. The main alternative conceptions on gas were: gases are the chemical elements in the 18th column  of the periodic table; gas is any chemical reaction involving formation of gas; gas expansion results from the increase in particle size; and gas density varies with pressure. There were also misleading representations and reasoning failure in  explaining the air thermal expansion phenomenon. Among the alternative conceptions herein identified, the conception that"gases are chemical elements" stands out with 58% of the students interpreting  gases as  noble gases. These conceptions may be related to the chemical meaning of words such as particles, atom, element, molecules and substances, as well as the way the content on gases was taught in high school.

Author Biographies

João Paulo Mendonça Lima, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Departamento de Química

Kleber Bergamaski, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Departamento de Química

Published

2015-06-17

How to Cite

Silva, J. C., Lima, J. P. M., & Bergamaski, K. (2015). Alternative conceptions on gases by freshmen students from Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry at UFS / Campus São Cristóvão. Scientia Plena, 11(6). Retrieved from https://scientiaplena.emnuvens.com.br/sp/article/view/2496

Issue

Section

Escola de Verão em Educação Química e Seminário Integrador do PIBID/Química