Abstract

CARDELLINI, L.. Chemistry: Why the Subject is Difficult?. Educ. quím [online]. 2012, vol.23, suppl.2, pp.305-310. ISSN 0187-893X.

One aspect common in every culture is the decreasing number of students studying chemistry. What are the barriers that prevent students from learning chemistry? The objective of this study is to explore the importance of the philosophy of chemistry and suggest strategies that can facilitate students' conceptual understanding. We can make chemistry relevant and promote students' interest, curiosity and understanding by showing that science is a human enterprise. Particulate nature of matter provides an opportunity to reveal that the changing of atomic models (Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr, Bohr-Sommerfeld) is a manifestation of the tentative nature of scientific theories. It is concluded that introducing some elements of history and philosophy of chemistry is conducive towards a better understanding of scientific progress.

Keywords : philosophy of chemistry; tentative nature of scientific theories; atomic models.