Grade 12 learners' understanding of chemical reactions

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to investigate grade 12 learners' understanding of chemical reactions in order to improve teaching and learning. A sample of 40 grade12 learners was selected from a school in Lobethal circuit. A 5-point Likert questionnaire with 20-items was used to collect data. The study revealed that the respondents had different perspectives about chemical reactions. Some respondents had difficulties in understanding bonds breaking during chemical reactions, whilst others perceived bond formation as the exchange of electrons between atoms. The findings from this study may be useful to the learners in understanding chemical reactions better and to the teachers as well as policy makers to create environment for learning. The study recommends strategies to use in order to overcome such learning difficulties in understanding chemical reactions.