Úspěšnost žáků při řešení matematicky zaměřených chemických úloh

Abstract

When solving certain problems in chemistry, it is necessary for pupils to master not only the basic curriculum of this subject, but also to have mathematical skills. In the Czech curriculum documents for grammar schools (called gymnázium), mathematics is divided into the topics of argumentation and verification, number and variable, working with data, combinatorics, probability, dependence and functional relations, and geometry. Knowledge from these areas is then also used in solving chemical tasks, such as calculations in chemistry, determining the geometry of molecules or analysing data from tables and graphs. It can be assumed that mathematical literacy is key to successfully solving selected tasks in chemistry. This assumption was verified in a controlled interview with 5 grammar school graduates who achieved different learning outcomes in chemistry and mathematics. The students solved four constructed chemistry tasks using mathematical literacy, while think aloud method was used.