Abstract:

Students from second cycle degree in Chemistry have done a test to analyze their basic knowledge in Chemistry (i.e. knowledge acquired during the secondary education). The results point out that a relatively high percentage of the students have a low level in basic concepts in chemistry and they have not become conversant with the following two main aspects of chemistry degree: i) Major aspects of chemical terminology, nomenclature, conventions and units; ii) major types of chemical reaction and the main characteristics associated with them. A detailed analysis of the answers to the different questions included in that test has allowed us to suggest that there is not a smooth connection between the secondary education and the curriculum design of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Then, the basic knowledge in chemistry acquired during the secondary education should be revised in more detail during the first courses of Chemistry Bachellor.