SECONDARY STUDENTS' USE OF SUBMOLECULAR REPRESENTATIONS: HOW COMPATABLE THEY ARE WITH THE ACCEPTED MODELS

Abstract

To analyze students' submicroscopic representations of atoms, molecules and ionic lattice structures a survey design was implemented in the study in which high school Grade 9 Turkish students (n= 100) were participated. The questionnaire included 4 open ended molecular drawing questions that take place in the textbook as molecular models. The data obtained from students' molecular drawings and verbal explanations in the questionnaire were analysed together ideographically. The findings indicated some of the students were able to relate submicroscopic representation with the symbolic ones in an acceptable way. Yet, most of the students failed to show submicroscopic level, instead they used Lewis dot structures with outermost shell electrons for molecular drawings. Most of the students were successful in differentiating between solid, liquid and gaseous state of the same substance at submicroscopic level where the position of the molecules, atoms or ionic lattice were drawn in an acceptable way.