Senior High School Students’ Difficulties in Learning Hybridisation in Chemistry

Abstract

The concept of hybridisation is one of the most difficult concepts for chemistry students to grasp at all levels of learning. Research showed the students conceptual difficulty ranged from their lack of the pre-requisite knowledge for grasping the topic hybridisation to chemical bond formation and orientations of atomic orbitals. This study investigated the difficulties Senior High School Students face in learning hybridisation. The study adopted a mixed-method approach using the sequential exploratory design. Purposive sampling was used to select six schools that offer elective chemistry subject. Simple random sampling was then used to select 120 Senior High School form 1 students to take part in the study. Convenient sampling was used to interview 24 students from the sample. Hybridisation Achievement Test (HAT) and Semi-structured interviews were self-constructed and used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and Content analysis were used to analyse the data. Results showed that, majority of students had difficulties in explaining the concept of hybrid orbitals, writing the electron configuration of 6C, explaining the effect of hybridisation on formation of chemical bonds in 6C, and type of hybridisation and shapes of compounds such as NH3, OF2, BCl3, CO2, SiO2, C2H2, BeF¬2 and C2H4. The study also showed that students had difficulties in explaining and demonstrating the formation of C = C double bond in ethene and other compounds. Equally students were challenged in demonstrating the differences between the formation of sigma and pi bonds in compounds. Students had difficulties in using electron orbital diagrams to explain the shape of CO2 as linear. The study concluded that Senior High School form 1 chemistry students in the Upper West Region of Ghana lacked the most basic and fundamental concept of hybridisation. Teachers need to use conceptual change instructional approaches to teach hybridisation in order to foster students’ understanding and reduce misconceptions. Keywords: atomic orbitals; hybrid orbitals; hybridisation; mixed- method approach; sigma and pi-bonds;

Effect of Computer Animation Instructional Package on Students’ Achievement in Hybridization in Chemistry

“…Additionally, learners neglected to mention the importance of sp, sp2, and sp3 in identifying single and multiple bonds in hydrocarbon. Most students could not differentiate between the forms and types of hybridization in the molecules NH3, OF2, BCl3, CO2, C2H2, BeF2, and C2H4 compounds (Abukari et al, 2022). They provided a graphic illustration that was erroneous and inadequate in explaining why water is not a linear molecule (Koomson et al, 2020).…”

Chemistry teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge in teaching hybridization

“…However, in teaching and learning, the topic hybridization has been identified as one of the most abstract and difficult concept for classroom instruction (Abukari et al, 2022;Calis, 2018;Jian, 2014;Salah & Dumon, 2011). Research conducted have revealed that students have difficulties in learning the concept of hybridization by Abukari et al (2022), Calis (2018), Hanson et al, (2012), Jian (2014), Koomson et al, (2020), Nakiboglu (2003), and Salah and Dumon (2011). Some of the difficulties students experience in learning hybridization has been attributed to gaps in teacher knowledge in teacher training (Rollnick & Mavhunga, 2014).…”