Teaching and Learning Chemical Thermodynamics in School.

International audienceThe concept of energy has proved to be difficult to teach and learn. A review of the literature in science education on this subject is proposed then a possible explanation of these difficulties is proposed on the base of the theories of learning, and more specifically with conceptions. Finally, an innovative teaching sequence involving the model of the energy chain is proposed, analysed and evaluated. This teaching sequence involved experimental work and computer simulation to introduce chemical thermodynamic concepts such as bonding energy, heat of reaction, or changes of states, with both microscopic and macroscopic viewpoint