Modern Chemistry Teaching. Part 1. Geometrical Crystallography at High School during Chemistry Lessons and Clubs

Crystallography plays an important role in the development of many fields of science and technology. Its importance is reflected in the numerous Nobel Prizes awarded for achievements in this area. Crystallography combines knowledge from chemistry, physics and mathematics. It provides students with a unique insight into the structure of matter, making this a fundamental tool for understanding biological, chemical, and material processes. It develops analytical skills. Despite these, the presence of crystallography in high school curricula is none or marginal. Therefore, the first aim of this paper is to present arguments supporting geometrical crystallography in the high school curricula. The second aim is to propose a syllabus with comprehensive description for teachers, outlining key topics that should be included in the curriculum. These topics involve, inter alia, the concept of a crystal lattice, the explanation of symmetry operations, the explanation of and examples for space and point groups, and the relationships between internal and external structures of crystals.