The Uniqueness of Teaching and Learning Chemistry

The current perception of Chemistry held by many students and the general public apears to be in stark contrast to its true nature. Although chemistry is ubiquitous in all aspects of our daily lives it continues to be perceived as highly theoretical and of little relevance. A clearer understanding of the fundamental Nature of Chemistry will be needed if students are to recognize its true importance and character. It is not possible to fully understand, and as a consequece accept on an intuitive basis, the 'mystery' and fascinations arising from the transformation of matter, without first adopting a convincing sub-microscopic view, able to connect observed macroscopic properties to the behaviour of atoms and molecules. Insightful use of models and computer generated visualization techniques now offer a way forward, but only once the learning difficulties being encountered by students have been fully appreciated by their university lecturers.