Uso dos diagramas de Rich-Suter para o ensino de aprendizagem de configurações eletrônicas: um estudo exploratório

Abstract

Determining the electron arrangements of atomic and ionic species, as well as knowing the reasons for these configurations, is of fundamental importance to understand and explain some phenomena, as well as to make predictions about the properties of chemical elements. Traditionally, that topic has been addressed in chemistry textbooks using Linus Pauling's electron distribution diagram. Despite the simplicity and advantages of that diagram for the distribution of electrons of atoms and ions, this model presents some limitations in representing the electron configurations of about 20% of the chemical elements; particularly for ions of these elements, the difficulties become even more evident. Considering this matter, the present work carried out a study on the use of diagrams developed by Rich-Suter (1988) to approach the electronic configurations of chemical species in the teaching and learning context. Therefore, a didactic sequence was planned and applied, with the participation of chemistry undergraduate students at the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), in Mossoró - RN. The aim of this work was to analyze the use of these diagrams in the process of the teaching and learning on electronic configurations of transition elements, through the mentioned didactic sequence. The research is qualitative in nature and can be classified as exploratory. Data were collected from a questionnaire, evaluative activities, field notes and audio recording of discursive interactions along of the teaching sequence. Findings suggest that the use of RichSuter (1988) diagrams linked to the approach of phenomenological and submicroscopic aspects of chemical knowledge in the context of the teaching sequence was useful in favoring and expanding students' knowledge regarding to the electronic configurations of atoms and ions. From the observations carried out in this work, an instructional material has been designed in the form of a booklet as a suggestion for the approach of this theme in the teaching and learning of chemistry.