Abstract

Studies in chemistry education show that chemistry topics are considered as abstract, complicated and hard to understand by students. For this reason, it is important to develop new materials and use them in classes for better understanding of abstract concepts. Moving from this point, a student-centered research guided by a teacher was conducted by constructing models for teaching chemical bonds. A one-group pre-test – post-test design was used in the study (weak experimental design). A study guide was prepared on the topic of chemical bonding and was used to teach the topic to freshman students in General Chemistry II class. An achievement test on chemical bonding was taken by students before and after the study. Statistical analysis of the results has shown that the study guide enhanced students’ understanding of chemical bonding concepts. Additionally, some misconceptions in the topic reported in literature were not observed in the study group.

Key words: Chemistry education, modelling, ionic bond, covalent bond and hydrogen bond.