The Development and Use of a Pedagogical History for a Key Chemical Idea: the Case of Ions in Solution

Abstract

A pedagogical history for a chemical idea combines a knowledge of the historical and philosophical background of that idea with what is known about the teaching and learning of that idea and is presented in a format and language that should make sense to a student. The development and use of such a pedagogical history for ions in solution is discussed in this paper. The emphasis is at the upper secondary or lower tertiary level and attempts to illustrate how chemical knowledge is constructed. An understanding of the nature of chemistry is a planned outcome of the exercise. [Author abstract]