The study examined the impact of prior exposure to laboratory apparatus activities on acquisition of process, skills and achievement in Chemistry at secondary level in Giwa Zone Kaduna State Nigeria. A total of 120 Senior Secondary Two (SS II) Chemistry students were in the study from a total population of 996. Non randomized pretest, posttest experimental-control groups research design was used for the study. Chemistry Performance Test (CPT) and Science Process Skills Performance Test (SPSPT) were used as instruments with reliability value of 0.89 and 0.75 respectively. To determine whether students’ prior exposed to laboratory apparatus activities on acquisition of science process skills and achievement of different concepts in Chemistry. t-test statistical tool at P<0.05 was used to analyse data collected for the study. Generally prior exposure to laboratory apparatus activities on acquisition of process skills was found to be more effective in enhancing students’ science process skills and academic performance on difficult concepts than those not prior exposed. The results showed that students’ academic achievements are significantly high given the same condition of exposure to prior laboratory apparatus activities on acquisition of science process skills. Therefore recommendations were made among others that science curriculum developers, supervisory bodies of secondary schools, science education and teachers should incorporate prior exposure to laboratory apparatus activities on acquisition of science process skills approach into curricular of Chemistry at secondary school level.

laboratory apparatus, skill aquisition process