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USING ANALOGY TO EXPLAIN CHEMICAL EQULILIBRIUM TO PARTICIPANTS OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME FOR SEAFARERS

A model of lifelong learning known as Special education programme for seafarers has been offered by Croatian universities from March 2011. It is an alternative programme which enables participants to meet requirements for the award of vocational competency certificates for the highest ranking positions on board the ships. According to IMO model programmes Special education programme for seafarers in marine engineering contains course Fuels, Lubricants and Water. One of the topics covered in the course is industrial water treatment. Participants have practical experience in the field and they are familiar with significance of achieving the adequate water quality, water pH being one of important parameters. However, to the question why is necessary to adjust pH of boiler water, participants answer that water becomes acidic at higher temperatures. In order to rectify this spread misconception, concept of chemical equilibrium has to be introduced. In this paper we propose the use of analogy in order to qualitatively explain temperature dependence of ionic product of water to students who graduated from high school some time ago and therefore may have insufficient background in chemistry.

maritime education ; teaching/learning chemistry to maritime students ; boiler water treatment ; chemical equilibrium

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