2026-03-302026-03-302025-12-11https://repositorio.ifal.edu.br/handle/123456789/1467This work presents a didactic proposal for teaching Organic Functions based on the chemical characterization of lemon and tangerine essential oils, using real analytical data and integrating them into the Science, Technology, Society, and Environment (STSE) approach. The research is structured as a mixed-method study, combining experimental laboratory procedures and a pedagogical intervention to develop and evaluate a contextualized educational material. The investigation includes the extraction of the essential oils, the identification of their major chemical constituents through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and the use of these results to design a teaching manual for high school students. The material was implemented in a third-year Integrated Technical High School class at the Federal Institute of Alagoas, and students’ perceptions regarding clarity, relevance, contextualization, and meaningful learning were analyzed. The results indicate that using essential oils as a thematic axis aids in understanding abstract concepts of Organic Chemistry, connects theoretical content to real-life situations, and broadens students’ awareness of the scientific, technological, environmental, and social dimensions associated with these compounds. The findings demonstrate that the didactic proposal effectively enhances student engagement, supports meaningful learning, and promotes a more contextualized and comprehensive understanding of Chemistry. The study concludes that essential oils constitute a pedagogically viable and accessible strategy that strengthens scientific literacy and contributes to the improvement of chemistry teaching practices.ptAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 BrazilQuímica - EnsinoÓleos essenciaisFunções orgânicasCiência Tecnologia Sociedade e Ambiente (CTSA) - Abordagem pedagógicaEssential oilsOrganic functionsChemistry teachingSTSE ApproachTrabalho de Conclusão de CursoCIENCIAS EXATAS E DA TERRA::QUIMICA