ANALYZING OF STUDENTS MISCONCEPTIONS ON ACID-BASE CHEMISTRY AT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN MEDAN

Students’ misconceptions on acid-base chemistry at senior high schools in Medan were investigated in this study. The study involved 179 of 11th grade students from six different schools in Medan selected based on their accreditation which were represented by MAN 2 Model Medan (36 students), SMAS Panca Budi Medan (31 students), SMAN 8 Medan (39 students), SMAN 11 Medan (37 students), SMAS Mamiyai Al-Ittihadiyah (16 students), and SMAS Afifiyah
Medan (20 students). Students’ misconceptions on acid base chemistry topic were identified by giving a valid test developed by researcher to the students in form of
Acid-Base Chemistry Misconception Test containing 12 open-ended multiple choises. The data collected in this study were students’ responses in form of students’ choices from available option and students’ reasons as explanation for selected option. The data of students’ choices and reasons obtained were processed and converted into students’ achievement and understanding, respectively. The data of students’ understanding obtained from students responses were categorized based on the degree of understanding. It was revealed that students had fifteen misconceptions from five main concepts investigated in acid-base chemistry topic including acid and base concepts (22.07%), pH and pOH concepts (43.58%), ionization degree and equilibrium constant concepts (8.94%), acid-base indicators concept (6.15%), and acid-base titration concept (9.50%). The study also revealed four main students’ problems in understanding acid-base chemistry namely fragmentation of students’ understanding, problems with symbols and mathematical formula, difficulties in understanding the context in acid-base chemistry, and problems in generalization. The results of analysis in students’ misconception could be used as references for chemistry teachers for identifying students’ misconception in classroom. Considering the importance of students’ misconception data, it was recommended to investigate students’ misconceptions on acid-base chemistry and other topics in chemistry using various methods.