Examining challenges and difficulties students face in learning about stoichiometry in general chemistry courses.
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| Title: | Examining challenges and difficulties students face in learning about stoichiometry in general chemistry courses. |
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| Authors: | Salame, Issa I.1 isalame@ccny.cuny.edu, Kanishka, Haroon1, Ishak, Antonuos1 |
| Source: | Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental & Science Education. 2026, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p1-9. 9p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Chemistry education, *Problem solving, Stoichiometry, Mole (Chemistry), Chemical equations |
| Abstract: | Stoichiometry is one of the foundational concepts in general chemistry, yet many students struggle to fully understand its underlying principles. In spite of repeated exposure in instructional settings, alternative conceptions about stoichiometric relationships, limiting reagents, and chemical equations persist, which often hinder student success and their progress in chemistry education. The aim of this study is to investigate some of conceptual difficulties and challenges students encounter in learning about stoichiometry and examine how these alternative conceptions affect students’ problem-solving abilities and confidence levels. Drawing upon data collected through Likert-type surveys and multiple-choice diagnostic questions administered to General Chemistry I students, the paper identifies specific areas of difficulties and confusion, interpreting coefficients versus subscripts and applying the mole concept in multi-step calculations. Data was collected through a questionnaire distributed to 193 science majors at The City College of New York. The findings show that while students demonstrate procedural fluency in tasks like balancing equations, their conceptual understanding remains superficial, especially when addressing limiting reagents or combustion analysis. The authors recommend that educators promote a conceptual rather than just procedural approach which can enhance student success and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental & Science Education is the property of Modestum Publications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 192185950 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Examining challenges and difficulties students face in learning about stoichiometry in general chemistry courses. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Salame%2C+Issa+I%2E%22">Salame, Issa I.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> isalame@ccny.cuny.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kanishka%2C+Haroon%22">Kanishka, Haroon</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ishak%2C+Antonuos%22">Ishak, Antonuos</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Interdisciplinary+Journal+of+Environmental+%26+Science+Education%22">Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental & Science Education</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p1-9. 9p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chemistry+education%22">Chemistry education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+solving%22">Problem solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stoichiometry%22">Stoichiometry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mole+%28Chemistry%29%22">Mole (Chemistry)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chemical+equations%22">Chemical equations</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Stoichiometry is one of the foundational concepts in general chemistry, yet many students struggle to fully understand its underlying principles. In spite of repeated exposure in instructional settings, alternative conceptions about stoichiometric relationships, limiting reagents, and chemical equations persist, which often hinder student success and their progress in chemistry education. The aim of this study is to investigate some of conceptual difficulties and challenges students encounter in learning about stoichiometry and examine how these alternative conceptions affect students’ problem-solving abilities and confidence levels. Drawing upon data collected through Likert-type surveys and multiple-choice diagnostic questions administered to General Chemistry I students, the paper identifies specific areas of difficulties and confusion, interpreting coefficients versus subscripts and applying the mole concept in multi-step calculations. Data was collected through a questionnaire distributed to 193 science majors at The City College of New York. The findings show that while students demonstrate procedural fluency in tasks like balancing equations, their conceptual understanding remains superficial, especially when addressing limiting reagents or combustion analysis. The authors recommend that educators promote a conceptual rather than just procedural approach which can enhance student success and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental & Science Education is the property of Modestum Publications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.29333/ijese/17701 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 9 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Chemistry education Type: general – SubjectFull: Problem solving Type: general – SubjectFull: Stoichiometry Type: general – SubjectFull: Mole (Chemistry) Type: general – SubjectFull: Chemical equations Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Examining challenges and difficulties students face in learning about stoichiometry in general chemistry courses. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Salame, Issa I. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kanishka, Haroon – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ishak, Antonuos IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Text: 2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 26336537 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 22 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental & Science Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
