The author replies to Paiva and Gil

We appreciate the interest shown in our article by colleagues Paiva and Gil and accept their comments that a fourth level of interpretation for the alterations of equilibrium states provides a valid thermodynamic approach to the study of chemical equilibrium. We also acknowledge that this thermodynamic approach may encourage a deeper understanding of the topic. However, the considerations of Paiva and Gil are beyond the scope of Australian high school chemistry syllabuses and we could not imagine this thermodynamic approach being used in secondary school. The concern of our paper was an investigation into existing secondary school chemistry teaching and learning practices. Consequently, our article referred to the syllabuses used in local schools and also throughout Australia; it did not examine all possible approaches to this important topic in the chemistry curriculum.