Pengetahuan Prinsip Kimia Hijau - Pencegahan, Atom Ekonomi dan Penggunaan Sumber Bahan Mentah Boleh Diperbaharui dalam Kalangan Murid Tingkatan 4 di Malaysia

Abstract

Green chemistry is an important learning approach that provides education on environmental sustainability through the implementation of 12 principles introduced since the late 1990s. However, the success of this approach depends on the level of students' knowledge of all the principles contained in green chemistry. This study aims to examine the level of knowledge of the three principles of green chemistry among fourth grade students who take chemistry subjects at school. The three principles are prevention, atom economy and the use of raw materials from renewable sources. A qualitative study was conducted involving 80 high school students. A set of questions for the Knowledge Test _Kimia Hijau (UP_KH) was administered in this study. The data was analyzed by content analysis. The findings of the study show that students have a low knowledge of the principles of green chemistry, namely prevention, atom economy and the use of raw materials from renewable energy sources. Students' knowledge of the principle of prevention is general to prevent environmental pollution. It focuses on three general aspects namely legal action, campaigning and waste management. Pupils have low knowledge in the principle of economic atoms and cannot make the correct connection between the value of economic atoms and the level of effectiveness of a reaction. Students' knowledge was also found to be low regarding renewable raw material sources and the importance of their implementation in a chemical reaction. Knowledge about the principles of green chemistry is very important to give early exposure to students about the need for early-stage prevention to overcome environmental pollution problems.