One of the factors is most of the chemistry classes are focusing on the symbolic level while ignoring the
macroscopic and submicroscopic level (Johnstone, 1991). As a result, the student assumes chemistry as science
symbols towards the elements and formulas for the chemistry equations solely, which means that they are failed
to understand the particles characteristics and unable to illustrates the chemistry phenomenon dynamically.
Consequently, students in various age groups has a variety of alternative frameworks related to this level in their
chemistry learning process (Mulford and Robinson, 2002; Nakhleh et al., 2005; Yizierski and Birk, 2006; Ayas et
al., 2010; Rahayu and Kita, 2010). This situation shows that submicroscopic level is the marginalized level
compared to macroscopic and symbolic level (Wright, 2003).
Alternative framework is an existing knowledge which contradicts with the scientific concepts which is
a real concept and accepted by the scientists. It is accepted by the students through the process of their
interaction with the environment and the process of socialization before or while in the classroom (Johari, 2010).
Alternative framework is also considered as a strong concept, highly resistant and hard to change as well as
creating an obstacle in learning process (Canpolat, 2006; Pabuçcu and Geban, 2006). The initial concept had by
the students about the world around them could evolve into alternative framework and this kind of concept
which is results from the teaching process is referred as school-made misconception (Barke et al., 2009).
The finding of the previous studies notes that students at various ages own several of alternative
frameworks on the concepts of matter at submicroscopic level (Krnel et al., 2003; Boo and Watson, 2001). As
such, this study should be conducted to explore the imagination of students of all ages to the concepts of matter
at submicroscopic level. From this exploration, it is hoped that the alternative framework owned by the students
during the imagination process could be identified and understood more deeply so that the teaching and learning
strategies can be improved.