Crucial role of the internalisation of the distinction between dependent and independent variables for clearer chemistry understanding
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Liliana Mammino
Abstract
Mathematics constitutes a fundamental key for the description and understanding of many phenomena. The chemistry discourse incorporates mathematics in various ways and instances. At educational level, interchanges occur in two directions: mathematics provides support for clearer understanding of chemical phenomena, and the level at which students use the relevant mathematics is an indication of the clarity of their conceptual understanding in chemistry. The present work focuses on an issue for which mathematics tightly links to the conceptual understanding of physical terms – the issue of independent and dependent variables. The definition is in principle well known. On the other hand, the distinction between the two types of variables and their roles is not always clearly underlined at explanation level, and is often not sufficiently internalised by students. This results in a variety of misunderstandings and errors. Careful analysis of students’ works enables the identification of errors that can be tracked down to unclear distinction between the dependent and independent variables in a given context; such errors appear in several areas of chemistry, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The present work considers and analyses a number of representative examples, highlighting the impact of their unclear distinction and the ensuing importance of devoting specific attention to it. Selected addressing approaches from direct experience are included and their outcomes discussed.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- In this issue
- Special topic papers
- Ozone-initiated degradation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene over ceria-supported manganese, nickel, vanadium and iron catalysts
- The effect of chemical modification using citraconic anhydride on the stability of α-amylase from Aspergillus fumigatus
- Decarbonizing our environment via the promotion of biomass methanation in developing nations: a waste management tool
- Maximising the consistency of the presentation of the molecular level with its quantum mechanical description: challenges and opportunities
- The amide group and its preparation methods by acid-amine coupling reactions: an overview
- Surface tension measurement of FAP-based ionic liquid pendant drops in a high vacuum/gas cell
- Investigating the bioactive compounds from Capsicum annum as a probable alternative therapy for prostate cancer treatment: a structure-based drug design approach
- Crucial role of the internalisation of the distinction between dependent and independent variables for clearer chemistry understanding
- 3-(4-methoxyphenyl) acrylic acid halts redox imbalance and modulate purinergic enzyme activity in iron-induced testicular injury
- Computational study on reactivity, aromaticity, and absorption spectra of chrysene: effect of BN doping and substituents
- Health benefit of lipid composition of orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit pulp at different maturation stages
