Connecting Chemistry to Mathematics by Establishing the Relationship between Conductivity and Concentration in an Interdisciplinary, Computer-Based Project for High School Chemistry Students
Hao Shang
Abstract
Here, we present an interdisciplinary educational project intended for high school chemistry that is focused on the establishment of a mathematical model to describe the relationship between conductivity and concentration, while linking chemistry to mathematics with the help of computer software. The project was designed to help high school students engage in methods and comprehend advanced topics beyond the typical high school chemistry curriculum, as well as to resolve a problem that no single disciplinary perspective is able to solve. This project provided students with a simple method to build mathematical models, which could be used to help them discover the relationship between discrete experimental data and mathematical equations. A postinstructional survey showed that, after completing the project, more students knew how to construct mathematical equations that fit discrete data.