Students Competence in Linking Chemical Representations on Acid-Base Concepts: A Preliminary Study
Hazmi Fauzi (a*), Sri Mulyani (a), Wiji (a)

a) Departemen Pendidikan Kimia, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia
*hazmy.fauzy[at]gmail.com

Abstract

As in other chemical concepts, Acid-base concept involves phenomena related to three levels of chemical representation including macroscopic, submicroscopic and symbolic. This study aims to determine the description of students competence in linking various chemical representations on acid-base concept. The method used is descriptive qualitative by conducting a semi-structured interview with 11th grade students. Various representations of the three types are given to students and they are asked to explain and link to each other. The interconnection patterns that may emerge from this research can be: 1) Macroscopic, Submicroscopic, Symbolic 2) Macroscopic, Symbolic, Submicroscopic 3) Submicroscopic, Macroscopic, Symbolic 4) Submicroscopic, Symbolic, Macroscopic 5) Symbolic, Macroscopic, Submicroscopic 6) Symbolic, Submicroscopic, Macroscopic. The results showed that the 11th grade students competence in linking the three levels of chemical representation was quite low, especially in linking submicroscopic representations to symbolic representations. In general, the competence in linking various types of representations is still a tough task for students so that efforts are needed to overcome this. The results of this study then can be used as a basis for developing supporting teaching materials in increasing the linking competence toward chemical representations, one of which is electronic module.

Keywords: representational linking competence, three levels of chemical representation, acid-base, electronic module

Topic: Chemistry Education