Senior Secondary School Chemistry Students' Knowledge of Basic Laboratory Equipment Functions and Chemical Storage Procedures

Abstract

The study examined the knowledge of basic equipment functions and chemical storage procedures among Senior Secondary School Three (SSS3) chemistry students in the chemistry laboratory. A survey research design was employed to sample three hundred and twenty (320) SS3 chemistry students from eight secondary schools in four Local Government Areas in Oyo State, Nigeria. The instrument used for the study was a structured questionnaire focusing on the functions of basic equipment and chemical storage procedures in a chemistry laboratory. Three science educators validated the instrument for content and construct validation. The validated and reliable instrument was administered to the students during the May/June 2025 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The students' responses to the instrument were scored, and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics to answer the research questions and inferential statistics of the independent samples t-test, were also employed to test hypotheses. The results indicated that the students had 44.5% knowledge of basic equipment functions and 25.27% knowledge of chemical storage procedures. There was no statistically significant difference in the students' knowledge of basic equipment functions and chemical storage procedures between male and female students. The students had better knowledge of the basic equipment functions than of chemical storage procedures. Early practical exposure for chemistry students to hands-on activities and adequate training in the use of basic equipment and laboratory practices are crucial for acquiring both theoretical and practical skills, as well as for ensuring safety and efficient work in the chemistry laboratory.

Aminat Adekemi Ahmed; Ikeoluwa Folasade Adeoye; Raheem Oladejo Salau & Olajumoke Kikelomo Alayande. Senior Secondary School Chemistry Students' Knowledge of Basic Laboratory Equipment Functions and Chemical Storage Procedures. Ibadan Journal of Educational Studies, 23(2), 130-138.