Abstract:
This research was to be a baseline study to unearth Ghanaian elective science
students’ alternative conceptions at the start of their chemistry course at the
SHS so that they could be corrected early enough. The study aimed at
investigating students’ conceptions on properties of matter- elements,
compounds, mixtures, physical change, chemical change and the acid – base
concept. It covered three representative schools with a population of four
hundred and fifty students. These students completed a concept diagnostic test
on basic introductory chemistry concepts necessary for the start of an elective
chemistry course at Senior High School.
Results indicated that beginning High school students have significantly
gross misconcepts of greater than 42 % about basic chemistry concepts. This
is statistically significant and will not auger well for effective teaching and
understanding of further concepts. A lot of preparatory studies will be required
before the commencement of a secondary school chemistry course for better
grounding and understanding of chemistry concepts.
