Analysis of Student Problems on Acids and Bases Subject to Improve Problem-Solving Skills

Abstract

Acids and bases are one of the materials that students find difficult in learning chemistry. The objective of this study is to examine the difficulties encountered by students when learning about acids and bases, as well as their challenges in developing problem-solving abilities. Additionally, the study attempts to assess the importance of including ethical considerations in the problem-solving process. This is a qualitative study with a case study design. The study included a total of nine students and three lecturers from the chemistry education department of UIN Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar. Structured interviews were conducted to collect data, which was then analyzed using thematic analysis. The result revealed themes related to students' difficulties in studying acids and bases subject, namely understanding the initial concept, understanding the concept abstractly and complicatedly, memorizing formulas and theories, memorizing concepts and symbols, requiring deep understanding and thinking, and difficulty in calculating. Themes related to acid-base objectives that are difficult for students to master are the theory and concepts of acids and bases, naming acids and bases, water ionization, classifying acids and bases and calculating pH. Furthermore, the research results revealed that students were not adequately trained in the cultivation of problem-solving skills due to the teacher's failure to offer problem sets that effectively improved their problem-solving capabilities and were relevant to real-life situations. The importance of integrating ethics into the problem-solving process is underscored by several themes, including knowing Allah, increasing faith and piety in Allah, increasing students' insight and curiosity, enjoying learning chemistry, and ensuring that chemistry is not misused. For this reason, it is necessary to develop strategies, strengthen training and integrate ethics to improve problem-solving skills.