Abstract
Research of using mathematical principles in chemistry is leading us to creation of materials and resources that will support this interdisciplinary approach to education. The effectiveness of created materials is verified in secondary schools.
The ideas for these materials were drawn mainly from two sources. An extensive testing in chemistry was conducted among secondary school students as described in "The level of knowledge and skills in chemistry among secondary school students".
The interviews with the teachers of chemistry and mathematics are the second source for ideas. Problematic areas and tasks with interdisciplinary elements in chemistry, mathematics and science were selected based on the results of the study.
Students have got the most difficulties applying algebraic calculations in chemistry, using proportions, solving equations, expressing the unknown. Another area of concern is the spatial imagination, geometry and stereometry and the resulting arrangement of atoms and shapes of molecules.
Students have many difficulties in chemical analytical tasks with logical thinking, interpretation of information from graphs and tables, plotting measured values into graphs and statistical evaluation. The functional analysis emphasizes extensive background of chemistry for the development of theoretical mathematical skills.
The paper presents solutions of these problems in a form of interdisciplinary tasks.