{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,10]],"date-time":"2026-03-10T20:41:10Z","timestamp":1773175270924,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]],"date-time":"2025-12-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766966400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Funds","award":["UID\/00081\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/00081\/2025"]}]},{"name":"Chemistry Research Center of the University of Porto","award":["LA\/P\/0056\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0056\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Institute of Molecular Sciences"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Education Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study examines the impact of a Science\u2013Technology\u2013Society\u2013Environment (STSE) educational intervention on the teaching of acid\u2013base reactions to 11th-grade students (n = 17). The didactic sequence combined laboratory experiments, real-data analysis, and an interdisciplinary role-play debate, designed to connect chemical concepts with pressing socio-environmental challenges such as ocean acidification, acid rain, and acid mine drainage. Data collection included a pre- and post-test on environmental awareness and semi-structured interviews, enabling the assessment of both conceptual learning and attitudinal change. Significant conceptual gains were observed, with five of eleven test items reaching a normalized Hake gain \u2265 0.70, alongside increased environmental awareness. Qualitative findings further revealed that students valued the real-world context and interdisciplinary integration, reporting enhanced motivation, civic responsibility, and a more meaningful engagement with science. Overall, the results suggest that STSE-based chemistry instruction not only strengthens students\u2019 understanding of acid\u2013base equilibria but also fosters sustainability competencies essential for responsible and informed citizenship in the 21st century.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci16010038","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]],"date-time":"2025-12-29T06:25:51Z","timestamp":1766989551000},"page":"38","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Empowering Environmental Awareness Through Chemistry: A Science\u2013Technology\u2013Society\u2013Environment-Based Approach to Teaching Acid\u2013Base Reactions in 11th-Grade Science"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5540-0170","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gon\u00e7alo","family":"Gorito","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s\/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2136-0019","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carla","family":"Morais","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s\/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e21111931844","DOI":"10.33448\/rsd-v11i9.31844","article-title":"Forma\u00e7\u00e3o continuada de professores em ensino de qu\u00edmica \u00e0 luz da abordagem CTSA: Uma an\u00e1lise bibliogr\u00e1fica","volume":"11","author":"Sampaio","year":"2022","journal-title":"Research, Society and Development"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"893","DOI":"10.1039\/C5RP00115C","article-title":"Poetry and alkali metals: Building bridges to the study of atomic radius and ionization energy","volume":"16","author":"Morais","year":"2015","journal-title":"Chemistry Education Research and Practice"},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"1","article-title":"Citizen science in promoting chemical-environmental awareness of students in the context of marine pollution by (micro)plastics","volume":"27","author":"Morais","year":"2023a","journal-title":"Revista Electr\u00f3nica Educare"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"522","DOI":"10.1017\/aee.2023.14","article-title":"Students\u2019 attitudes towards the environment and marine litter in the context of a coastal water quality educational citizen science project","volume":"39","author":"Morais","year":"2023b","journal-title":"Australian Journal of Environmental Education"},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Ayres-Pereira, T. 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