The teaching of formulas, equations, and chemical reactions: developing a chemical dictionary

Abstract

This work proposes a "Chemical Dictionary" as a didactic material to facilitate the learning of complex concepts in Chemistry. Developed on the website canva.com, it addresses selected topics based on the authors' experiences during observation and teaching internships in the Chemistry Teaching program at the State University of Santa Cruz. The proposal is for this resource to be used in Basic Education by students and teachers, providing an accessible approach to interpret the processes and symbologies involved in subjects such as chemical kinetics and thermodynamics. To evaluate the didactic material, a demonstrative class was conducted simulating a High School environment in the Integrated Chemistry Practice I discipline. As part of the activity's dynamics, the "Chemical Dictionary" was incorporated into the class to assist in understanding and resolving questions randomly selected by the students. The didactic material was assessed for its creation and application by two groups using four distinct evaluation criteria, previously defined in the discipline. In the end, the evaluations indicated that the "Chemical Dictionary" has the potential to be used in the classroom. The feedback received was considered to further refine the proposal, emphasizing the potential of the "Chemical Dictionary" as a support material for the teaching and learning of Chemistry.