AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY CHEMISTRY STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This study investigated students difficulty in IUPAC naming of organic compound in chemistry, it identified student’s difficulty in IUPAC naming in organic compound, investigated the cause of students difficulty in IUPAC naming, identified that strategies to improve student’s performance in IUPAC naming, it finally determined the relationship between teacher’s method of teaching and student’s difficulty in IUPAC naming. Descriptive survey design was employed to investigate the difficulty of chemistry students in the IUPAC naming of organic compounds in Egor Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State, the study population comprised of all chemistry students in both private and Public Senior Secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo state. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select one hundred and twenty (120) chemistry students from three (3) private school and three (3) public secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area. The research instrument used was a research questionnaire of 20 items which was designed by the researcher and validated by the supervisor. The findings reveal that students' difficulties in IUPAC naming of organic compounds included their inability to identify the correct number of carbon atoms in the parent chains, and to identify a functional group. The lack of supportiveness and patients of viii tutors when guiding students through complex IUPAC naming concepts can be said to also be contributing factors to student’s difficulty in IUPAC naming of organic compounds. On the basis of the findings the researcher made the following recommendations to the concerned authorities; the ministry of Education should pay special attention to reviewing and updating the national chemistry curriculum to include comprehensive and learner friendly materials on IUPAC naming of Organic compounds.