Using Simple Chemistry Experiments to Improve Students' Understanding of Biochemical Processes in Biology
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Date
2026
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SDU University
Abstract
One of the main problems in secondary education is the “separation effect", i.e. the teaching of biology and chemistry without any connection. Consequently, students consider biology as mere memorization of facts and chemistry as a set of tough formulas. Students often don't know that the two disciplines are a system that connect each other. To solve this problem, this dissertation proposed an experimental teaching method called "Four Main Pillars". The goal of this approach is to increase the interest and understanding of students by removing the boundaries between the disciplines and clearly demonstrating the biochemical relationships. The main benefit of this research is that its results can be applied in real life. Four main experiments were carried out during the work. They were: determining the acidity of the environment (pH), monitoring gas exchange, explaining how enzymes work, and demonstrating the distribution of molecules (diffusion). For such experiments, not expensive laboratory equipment, but simple everyday objects were used. Thanks to this, it was proven that science is very understandable and that it is closely related to our lives. The data collected shows that this change was quite effective. The quantitative analysis results showed that students' self-confidence increased 73%. In particular, the percentage of students who could explain biological processes in chemical terms increased from 9% to 82%. The numbers went up a lot for how much students understood the link between biology and chemistry. It went from twenty eight percent to ninety one. That stands out. Also more of them started thinking science could be done with basic stuff which went up by fifty six percent I think.
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Keywords
Interdisciplinary Science, Biochemical Synergy, Hands-on Learning, Self-Efficacy
Citation
Abilova A / Using Simple Chemistry Experiments to Improve Students' Understanding of Biochemical Processes in Biology / SDU University / Department Pedagogy of Natural Sciences