Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Chemistry and Chemical Education Through Text and Image: Analysis of Twentieth Century Textbooks Used in Brazilian Context

  • Published:
Science & Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Assuming that textbooks give literary expression to cultural and ideological values of a nation or group, we propose the analysis of chemistry textbooks used in Brazilian universities throughout the twentieth century. We analyzed iconographic and textual aspects of 31 textbooks which had significant diffusion in the context of Brazilian universities at that period. As a result of the iconographic analysis, nine categories of images were proposed: (1) laboratory and experimentation, (2) industry and production, (3) graphs and diagrams, (4) illustrations related to daily life, (5) models, (6) illustrations related to the history of science, (7) pictures or diagrams of animal, vegetable or mineral samples, (8) analogies and (9) concepts of physics. The distribution of images among the categories showed a different emphasis in the presentation of chemical content due to a commitment to different conceptions of chemistry over the period. So, we started with chemistry as an experimental science in the early twentieth century, with an emphasis change to the principles of chemistry from the 1950s, culminating in a chemistry of undeniable technological influence. Results showed that reflections not only on the history of science, but on the history of science education, may be useful for the improvement of science education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Despite the infrequency of use of the word "textbook" for college teaching, the books used at this educational level can be classified in that category if we consider that textbooks are books whose original intention is explicitly aimed at educational use, and this intention is manifested by the author or editor (Bezerra and Bittencourt 2006, p. 3092).

  2. To read more about other proposals of categorization of images in textbooks see Perales and Jiménez (2002) and Dimopoulos et al. (2003).

  3. It is important to clarify that in Fig. 11 and in subsequent figures, the years between 1900 and 1909 are presented with the period extending from 1910 to 1919, due to the small number of works found in the first period. The same goes for the years 1950–1960.

References

  • ACS—American Chemical Society. (1958). The Reed College conference on the teaching of chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 35(2), 54–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves, M. M. (1968). Beabá dos MEC-USAID. Rio de Janeiro: Edições Gernasa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ash, M. G. (1984). Disziplinentwicklung und Wissenschaftstransfer—deutschsprachige Psychologen in der Emigration. Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte, 7, 207–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkins, P. W., & Jones, L. (2001). Princípios de química: questionando a vida moderna e o meio ambiente. Porto Alegre: Bookman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Babor, J. A. (1944). Química general moderna (2nd ed.). Barcelona: Manuel Marin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardin, L. (2009). Análise do Conteúdo (5th ed.). Lisboa: Edições 70.

  • Bavink, B. (1928). Introducción a la Química general (2nd ed.). Barcelona: Labor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra, R., & Bittencourt, C. M. F. (2006). Higiene e saúde nos livros didáticos do professor Felisberto de Carvalho. In Anais do VI Congresso Luso-Brasileiro de História da Educação. Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

  • Boll, M. (1927). Cours de chimie (Vol. 1). Paris: Dunod.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, J. E., & Humiston, G. E. (1986). Química geral (2nd ed.). Rio de Janeiro: LTC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkley, S. R. (1944). Principles of general chemistry (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, T. L., LeMay, H. E., & Bruce, E. (1999). Química: ciência central (7th ed.). Rio de Janeiro: LTC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campanario, J. M. (2001). ¿Qué puede hacer un profesor como tú o un alumno como el tuyo con un libro de texto como éste? Una relación de actividades poco convencionales. Enseñanza de las Ciencias, 19(3), 351–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choppin, A. (2007). Opening conference of the international symposium of textbooks: Education and history. In International symposium of textbooks. Sao Paulo: Faculty of Education.

  • Coracini, M. J. (1999). Interpretação, autoria e legitimação do livro didático. São Paulo: Pontes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deming, H. G. (1939). General chemistry: An elementary survey (4th ed.). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimopoulos, K., Koulaidis, V., & Sklaveniti, S. (2003). Towards an analysis of visual images in school science textbooks and press articles about science and technology. Research in Science Education, 33, 189–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • du Pont, E. F. (1937). What industry expects of its chemists? Journal of Chemical Education, 14(6), 265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, R. E. (1940). Changing concepts of major topics in college general chemistry textbooks. Journal of Chemical Education, 17(8), 370–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fangerau, H., & Müller, I. (2005). National styles? Jacques Loeb’s analysis of German and American science around 1900 in his correspondence with Ernst Mach. Centaurus, 47(3), 207–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franca, L. (1931). Apontamentos de chimica geral (5th ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Pimenta de Mello.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Ibáñez, J. D. (1972). Basic courses in chemistry. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 31(3), 361–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, N. (2004). Neoquímica: A química moderna e suas aplicações. Porto Alegre: Bookman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallewell, L. (2005). O livro no Brasil: sua história (2nd ed.). São Paulo: EDUSP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, G. S. (1970). Restructuring of chemistry and chemical curricula. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 22(1), 3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, G. S., & Nyholm, R. (1971). The structure of Chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 48(1), 6–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardwick, E. R. (1965). Química. São Paulo: Edgard Blucher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harwood, J. (1987). National styles in science: Genetics in Germany and the United States betweeen the World Wars. Isis, 78(3), 390–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauser, E. A. (1943). This nation will need more chemists after the war. Journal of Chemical Education, 20(10), 513.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, H. N. (1946). Introductory college chemistry (4th ed.). New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotz, J. C., & Treichel, P. M., Jr. (1998). Química e reações químicas (3rd ed., Vol. 2). Rio de Janeiro: LTC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, T. S. (1975). A estrutura das revoluções científicas. São Paulo: Perspectiva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamirand, J. (1927). Cours de chimie. Paris: Masson et Cie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maciel, M. (1913). Elementos de chimica geral (2nd ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Francisco Alves.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahan, B. H. (1970). Química: um curso universitário. São Paulo: Edgard Blucher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masterton, W. L. (1978). Química geral superior (4th ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Interamericana.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, W., & Henderson, W. E. (1917). An elementary study of chemistry (2nd ed.). Boston: The Atheneum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, W. C. (1941). Industry’s interest in the professional training of chemists’. Journal of Chemical Education, 18(12), 576–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, W. J. (1947). Chemistry and chemical engineering curricula in the postwar era. Journal of Chemical Education, 24(8), 376–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nernst, W. (1912). Traité de chimie générale (6th ed., Vol. 1 and 2). Paris: Libraire Scientifique.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, D. G. (1956). Trends: What’s happening to descriptive inorganic chemistry? Journal of Chemical Education, 33(8), 391–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nye, M. J. (1993). National styles? French and English chemistry in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Osiris, 8, 30–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, R. (1977). Fundamentos de química. São Paulo: Harper & Row do Brasil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohlweiler, O. A. (1967). Introdução à química geral (1st ed.). Porto Alegre: Globo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, J. B. A., Guimarães, S. D. P., & Bomény, H. M. B. (1984). A política do livro didático. São Paulo: Summus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostwald, W. (1924). Compendio de química general (6th ed.). Barcelona: Manuel Marín.

    Google Scholar 

  • Partington, J. R. (1950). Química general e inorgânica. Madrid: Dossat.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paula, M. F. (2009). A formação universitária no Brasil: concepções e influências. Avaliação, 14(1), 71–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pauling, L. (1965). Química geral (2nd ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Ao Livro Técnico.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perales, F. J., & Jiménez, J. D. (2002). Las ilustraciones em la enseñanza-aprendizaje de las ciencias: análisis de libros de texto. Enseñanza de las Ciências, 20(3), 369–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pimentel, G. C., & Spratley, R. D. (1974). Química: um tratamento moderno (Vol. 2). São Paulo: Edgard Blücher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puig, P. I. (1932). Curso geral de chimica (2nd ed.). Porto Alegre: Globo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quagliano, J. V., & Vallarino, L. M. (1979). Química (3rd ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quill, L. L. (1947). The revision of chemistry and chemical engineering curricula—Introductory remarks. Journal of Chemical Education, 24(8), 369–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quintaneiro, T. (2002). O mercado farmacêutico brasileiro e o esforço de Guerra norte-americano. Estudos Históricos, 29, 141–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rakestraw, N. W. (1958). Chemical education—Then and now. Journal of Chemical Education, 35(1), 18–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reingold, N. (1991). The peculiarities of the American or are there national styles in sciences? Science in Context, 4(2), 346–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro, M. L. S. (1982). História da educação brasileira: A organização escolar (4th ed.). São Paulo: Moraes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinenart, H. W. (1947). Educating for industry’s needs. Journal of Chemical Education, 24(8), 386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, G. R. (1940). Jobs for graduates in chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 17(6), 386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ronneberg, C. E. (1970). Chaos in science teaching. Chemical and Engineering News, 48(23), 51–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, J. B. (1981). Química geral. São Paulo: Mcgraw-Hill do Brasil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sienko, M. J., & Plane, R. A. (1968). Química (2nd ed.). São Paulo: Nacional.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slabaugh, W. H., & Parsons, T. D. (1977). Química geral (1st ed.). Rio de Janeiro: LTC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Souza, K. A. F. D., Mate, C. H., & Porto, P. A. (2011). História do uso do livro didático universitário: O caso do Instituto de Química da USP. Ciência e Educação, 17, 679–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, L. E., & Benfey, O. T. (1958). Chemical concepts and the college chemistry curriculum. Journal of Chemical Education, 35(4), 164–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamres, M., & Bailard, J. C., Jr. (1952). The course in general chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 29(5), 217–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira, M. J. (1904). Noções de chimica geral (6th ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Francisco Alves.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troost, L. (1901). Compendio de chimica (29th ed.). Rio de Janeiro: H. Garnier.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, A. H. (1931). Chemical industry and the curriculum. Journal of Chemical Education, 8(10), 2016–2022.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willard, F. W. (1937). What industry wants of its chemists? Journal of Chemical Education, 14(6), 263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions, and Dr. Kevin de Berg for the copyediting. This research was supported by the Brazilian agencies Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Pesquisa em História da Ciência e Ensino de Química (GHQ), Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, B 7 Sup., São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil

    Karina Ap F. D. Souza & Paulo Alves Porto

Authors
  1. Karina Ap F. D. Souza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paulo Alves Porto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karina Ap F. D. Souza.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Souza, K.A.F.D., Porto, P.A. Chemistry and Chemical Education Through Text and Image: Analysis of Twentieth Century Textbooks Used in Brazilian Context. Sci & Educ 21, 705–727 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-012-9442-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-012-9442-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation