Identification and categorization of reading-comprehension difficulties in statements of pencil and paper problems about stoichiometry

Abstract

Reading and comprehension of a science text requires some special abilities. Mastering the reading process not only involves the reading mechanics but also the interpretation of the message in the text. This is particularly significant when considering chemistry texts which cannot be understood without the reader´s previous knowledge about the topic, specific discipline vocabulary and familiarity with the chemical code, a language with its own rules, which often represents an obstacle for the students’ comprehension. This article focuses on the reading comprehension difficulties of stoichiometry problems showed by engineering students of the National University of Cordoba.