Interpretation of chemical reactions on sub-micro level without laboratory jargon

Abstract

From experiences all over the world, we know that formulae and chemical equations are memorized very often or only equalized by  counting the number of “atoms on the left and right side of the equation”. Looking to our Chemical triangle (Fig. 1) lecturers and  students are jumping from the Macro level just to the Symbolic level. If we would go first from Macro level to Sub-micro level and explain  chemical reactions with involved atoms, ions and molecules, learners would understand chemistry more successfully. With a special  questionnaire we are investigating the ability of university students and chemistry teachers in Indonesia and Tanzania to interpret given  chemical equations with involved particles. We found a lot of misconceptions and proposed how to challenge them. Another problem  may be the Laboratory jargon. Very often lecturers and teachers are mixing Macro and Sub-micro level, they read the well-known  equation 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O with the words: “two hydrogens plus one oxygen form two water”. Every expert knows that the molecules are  meant, but the young learner asks: “grams or milliliters of those gases”? So please stay on the Macro level and read “hydrogen and  oxygen react to water”. Or take the Sub-micro level and read: “2H₂ molecules + 1O₂ molecule react to 2H₂O molecules”. Otherwise,  misconceptions may arise, more examples can be found in the text.