Previous studies reported that one reason why general chemistry students struggle understanding chemical bonding is due to the use of many different representations when teaching about the making and breaking of bonds. Our project aims to examine how students translate between particulate (space-filling models) and symbolic (reaction equations) representations of molecules, particularly in regards to the making and breaking of bonds during a combustion reaction. Think-aloud interviews were conducted with ten general chemistry students in Spring 2017. Patterns in students’ thinking have been identified and described through thematic analysis.<br/>

Symbolic and space-filling representations of a combustion reaction: General chemistry students’ reasoning about bonding

255th National Meeting (2018)

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