A evolução histórica do conceito de elemento químico está presente nos livros didáticos do PNLD 2021?

Abstract

The main theme of this work is the historical development of the concept of element over time, seeking to understand how this concept has undergone profound changes. We chose the historical evolution of that concept as we recognize that it is fundamental for the evolution of chemistry as a modern and contemporary science. In this sense, we will analyze how the historical context related to the evolution of the concept of chemical element is addressed in high school textbooks. Such an analysis begins with the understanding that the concept has its beginnings in antiquity and undergoes a profound change in the period called modernity. Therefore, we are going to start the historical construction from conceptions of ancient philosophers and scientists in modernity, changing the previous paradigm regarding the concept of element. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to identify whether high school book collections use the historical development of the concept. For this, four books were chosen from six different collections of the High School PNLD 2021, to check if there is historical coherence about the concept of element and the way they are presented. Finally, thanks to the analysis of these books, the results indicate that the concept of chemical element present in high school books is still essentially traditional, since this conceptualization is done in an isolated way, with little or no historical approach, even if the concept (its definition) is correctly specified.