Students' dilemmas in reaction stoichiometry problem solving: deducing the limiting reagent in chemical reactions

Article

Chandrasegaran, A. L., Treagust, David F., Waldrip, Bruce G. and Chandrasegaran, Antonia. 2009. "Students' dilemmas in reaction stoichiometry problem solving: deducing the limiting reagent in chemical reactions ." Chemistry Education Research and Practice. 10 (1), pp. 14-23. https://doi.org/10.1039/B901456J
Article Title

Students' dilemmas in reaction stoichiometry problem solving: deducing the limiting reagent in chemical reactions

ERA Journal ID20659
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsChandrasegaran, A. L. (Author), Treagust, David F. (Author), Waldrip, Bruce G. (Author) and Chandrasegaran, Antonia (Author)
Journal TitleChemistry Education Research and Practice
Journal Citation10 (1), pp. 14-23
Number of Pages10
Year2009
Place of PublicationCambridge, United Kingdom
ISSN1756-1108
1756-1116
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1039/B901456J
Web Address (URL)http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2009/RP/b901456j
Abstract

A qualitative case study was conducted to investigate the understanding of the limiting reagent concept and the strategies used by five Year 11 students when solving four reaction stoichiometry problems. Students’ written problem-solving strategies were studied using the think-aloud protocol during problem-solving, and retrospective verbalisations after each activity. Contrary to several findings reported in the research literature, the two high-achieving students in the study tended to rely on the use of a memorised formula to deduce the limiting reagent, by comparing the actual mole ratio of the reactants with the stoichiometric mole ratio. The other three average-achieving students, however, generally deduced the limiting reagent from first principles, using the stoichiometry of the balanced chemical equation. Overall, the students displayed limited confidence during problem-solving to determine the limiting reagent and to perform related computations.

Keywordslimiting reagent; reasoning strategies; retrospective verbalisations; stoichiometry problem solving; think-aloud protocols
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520402. Decision making
390113. Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy
340601. Catalysis and mechanisms of reactions
390306. Secondary education
Public Notes

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.

Byline AffiliationsCurtin University of Technology
Faculty of Education
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1144/students-dilemmas-in-reaction-stoichiometry-problem-solving-deducing-the-limiting-reagent-in-chemical-reactions

Log in to edit
  • 1962
    total views
  • 6
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Student teachers' perceptions of science learning
Knight, Bruce Allen and Waldrip, Bruce G.. 2009. "Student teachers' perceptions of science learning ." Acta Ciencia Indica: Mathematics. 10 (1), pp. 5-9.
Students' perceptions of assessment process: questionnaire
Waldrip, Bruce G., Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeffrey P.. 2008. "Students' perceptions of assessment process: questionnaire." Fisher, Darrell, Koul, Rekha and Wanpen, Supatra (ed.) 5th International Conference on Science, Mathematics and Technology Education 2008: Science Mathematics and Technology Education: Beyond Cultural Boundaries. Udon Thani, Thailand 16 - 19 Jan 2008 Perth, Australia.
Classroom environment, students' perceptions of assessment, academic efficacy and attitude to science: a LISREL analysis
Dorman, Jeff, Fisher, Darrell L. and Waldrip, Bruce. 2006. "Classroom environment, students' perceptions of assessment, academic efficacy and attitude to science: a LISREL analysis." Fisher, Darrell L. and Khine, Myint Swe (ed.) Contemporary approaches to research on learning environments: worldviews. Hackensack, NJ, United States. World Scientific Publishing. pp. 1-28
Classroom environment, students' perceptions of assessment, academic efficacy and attitude to science: a LISREL analysis
Dorman, Jeff, Waldrip, Bruce and Fisher, Darrell L.. 2006. "Classroom environment, students' perceptions of assessment, academic efficacy and attitude to science: a LISREL analysis." NARST 2006 Annual Meeting: Learning Science in Formal and Informal Contexts. San Francisco, United States 03 - 06 Apr 2006 Reston, VA, USA.
Primary teachers' interpersonal behaviour and cultural elements of the classroom environment
Fisher, Darrell L., Waldrip, Bruce and den Brok, Perry. 2006. "Primary teachers' interpersonal behaviour and cultural elements of the classroom environment." Fisher, Darrell L., Zandvliet, David, Gaynor, Ian and Koul, Rekha (ed.) 4th International Conference on Science, Mathematics and Technology Education: Sustainable Communities and Sustainable Environments: Envisioning a Role for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education. Victoria, Canada 25 - 28 Aug 2005 Perth, WA.
Changing representations to learn primary science concepts
Waldrip, Bruce and Prain, Vaughan. 2006. "Changing representations to learn primary science concepts." Teaching Science: The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association. 52 (4), pp. 17-21.
Representation and learning in science
Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2009. "Representation and learning in science." Ritchie, Stephen M. (ed.) World of science education: handbook of research in Australasia. Rotterdam, Netherlands. Sense Publishers. pp. 69-84
Using the Student Perceptions of Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) to develop an assessment typology for science classes
Dorman, Jeffrey P., Waldrip, Bruce G. and Fisher, Darrell L.. 2008. "Using the Student Perceptions of Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) to develop an assessment typology for science classes." Journal of Science Education. 1 (9), pp. 13-17.
Using representations for teaching and learning in science
Carolan, Jim, Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2008. "Using representations for teaching and learning in science ." Teaching Science: The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association. 54 (1), pp. 18-23.
Student perceptions of teacher-student interpersonal behaviour and cultural factors of learning environment in metropolitan and country schools
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2007. "Student perceptions of teacher-student interpersonal behaviour and cultural factors of learning environment in metropolitan and country schools ." Education in Rural Australia. 17 (2), pp. 37-54.
Identifying exemplary science teachers through students' perceptions of their learning environment
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2009. "Identifying exemplary science teachers through students' perceptions of their learning environment." Learning Environments Research. 12 (1), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-008-9049-0
Changing primary students' perceptions of teacher interpersonal behaviours in science
Waldrip, B., Reene, Paula, Fisher, Darrell and Dorman, Jeff. 2008. "Changing primary students' perceptions of teacher interpersonal behaviours in science." Research in Science Education. 38 (2), pp. 213-235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-007-9045-x
A study of teachers' perspectives about using multimodal representations of concepts to enhance science learning
Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2008. "A study of teachers' perspectives about using multimodal representations of concepts to enhance science learning ." Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education. 8 (1), pp. 5-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/14926150802152152
Learning junior secondary science through multi-modal representation
Waldrip, Bruce, Prain, Vaughan and Carolan, Jim. 2006. "Learning junior secondary science through multi-modal representation." Electronic Journal of Science Education. 11 (1), pp. 86-105.
Pedagogical principles in negotiating cultural conflict: a Melanesian example
Waldrip, Bruce, Timothy, Joe and Wilikai, Wilson. 2007. "Pedagogical principles in negotiating cultural conflict: a Melanesian example." International Journal of Science Education. 29 (1), pp. 101-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690600718195
Upper secondary Bruneian science students’ perceptions of assessment
Dhindsa, Harkirat S., Omar, Khalid and Waldrip, Bruce. 2007. "Upper secondary Bruneian science students’ perceptions of assessment." International Journal of Science Education. 29 (10), pp. 1261-1280. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690600991149
An exploratory study of teachers’ and students’ use of multi-modal representations of concepts in primary science
Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2006. "An exploratory study of teachers’ and students’ use of multi-modal representations of concepts in primary science." International Journal of Science Education. 28 (15), pp. 1843-1866. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690600718294
Windows into practice: constructing effective science teaching and learning in a school change initiative
Tytler, Russell, Waldrip, Bruce and Griffiths, Michelle. 2004. "Windows into practice: constructing effective science teaching and learning in a school change initiative." International Journal of Science Education. 26 (2), pp. 171-194. https://doi.org/10.1080/0950069032000097370
Identifying exemplary science teachers through their classroom interactions with students
Waldrip, Bruce and Fisher, Darrell L.. 2003. "Identifying exemplary science teachers through their classroom interactions with students." Learning Environments Research. 6 (2), pp. 157-174. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024991019271
Students' perceptions of primary teachers' interpersonal behaviour and of cultural dimensions in the classroom environment
Fisher, Darrell L., Waldrip, Bruce and den Brok, Perry. 2005. "Students' perceptions of primary teachers' interpersonal behaviour and of cultural dimensions in the classroom environment." International Journal of Educational Research. 43 (1-2), pp. 25-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2006.03.004
Students' perceptions of classroom interactions and their understanding of primary science concepts
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2005. "Students' perceptions of classroom interactions and their understanding of primary science concepts." Pinto, Roser and Couso, Digna (ed.) ESERA 2005. Barcelona, Spain 28 Aug - 01 Sep 2005 Barcelona, Spain.
Student perceptions of assessment: questionnaire development and validation
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2005. "Student perceptions of assessment: questionnaire development and validation." Shymansky, Jim, Tillotson, John, Staver, John and Richmond, Gail (ed.) NARST 2005 Annual Meeting. Dallas, United States 04 - 07 Apr 2005 Dallas, USA.
Cultural learning environments, attitudes, teacher-student interactions, and students' understanding of primary science concepts
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2005. "Cultural learning environments, attitudes, teacher-student interactions, and students' understanding of primary science concepts." Shymansky, Jim, Tillotson, John, Staver, John and Richmond, Gail (ed.) NARST 2005 Annual Meeting. Dallas, United States 04 - 07 Apr 2005 Dallas, USA.
Teachers' perspectives on using multi-modal and multiple representations of concepts to enhance student learning in science
Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2005. "Teachers' perspectives on using multi-modal and multiple representations of concepts to enhance student learning in science." Pinto, Roser and Couso, Digna (ed.) ESERA 2005. Barcelona, Spain 28 Aug - 01 Sep 2005 Barcelona, Spain.
Village elders' and secondary school students' explanations of natural phenomena in Papua New Guinea
Pauka, Soikava, Treagust, David F. and Waldrip, Bruce. 2005. "Village elders' and secondary school students' explanations of natural phenomena in Papua New Guinea." International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. 3 (2), pp. 213-238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-004-6529-2