Analytical Studies and Identification of Water Pollutants in Quarry and Oil Zones: A Resource for Teaching the Concept of Pollution in Environmental Chemistry

The purpose of the study was on the chemistry of well water sources and its application in the teaching of the concept of pollution and pollutants. A total of 120 SS 2 Chemistry students were involved in the study. This number was made up of 73 males and 47 females drawn from four (4) secondary schools, 3 research hypotheses and 4 research questions were formulated to guide the study. The instruments used in gathering data for the study were Achievement Test in Chemistry (ATC), and Chemistry Retention Test (CRT). A non-randomized pretest-posttest control group design was adopted for the study. Kuder-Richardson formula – 21 was use to establish the reliability of Achievement Test in Chemistry (ATC). The reliability coefficient of ATC and CRT was 0.76. Data collected were analyzed using Descriptive Statistics and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). From the findings, it was observe that the chemical components of well water sources were effective in teaching the concept of pollution and pollutants in environmental chemistry. It was also observe that well water sources had significant main effect on students’ performance and retention in the concept of pollution and pollutants in environmental chemistry. There was also a significant difference in the performance of male and female students when taught the concept of pollution and pollutants using well water sources. Conclusion from the findings led to the recommendation that chemistry teachers should explore the use of local resource materials within their immediate environment to teach various concepts in sciences and indeed chemistry.