Module 1 Vocabulary

Coach Finley's Chemistry Class

chemistry

the study of matter and the changes that is undergoes

science

is the use of evidence to construct testable explanations and predictions of natural phenomena, as well as, the knowledge generated through this process

hypothesis

a testable explanation of a situation or phenomena

theory

an explanation of a natural phenomenon based on many observations and investigations over time

scientific law

a relationship in nature that is supported by many experiments

pure research

research done to gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge itself

applied research

research done to solve a specific problem

substance

also known as a chemical, is a matter that has a definite and uniform composition

mass

a measurement that reflects the amount of matter

weight

a measurement not only of the amount of matter but also of the effect of Earth's gravitational pull on that matter

model

a visual, verbal, or mathematical explanation of experimental data

base unit

a defined unit in a system of measurement that is based on an object or event in the physical world

second

the SI base unit for time (physical standard used to define the __________ is the frequency of the radiation given off by a cesium-133 atom)

meter

the SI base unit for length (the distance that light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792, 458 of a second)

kilogram

the SI base unit for mass ( a platinum and iridium cylinder kept in France)

kelvin

the SI base unit for temperature

derived unit

a unit that is defined by a combination of base units

liter

is equal to one cubic decimeter (dm^3), that is, 1 L equals 1 dm^3

density

a physical property of matter, and is defined as the amount of mass per unit volume

scientific notation

can be used to express any number as a number between 1 and 10 (known as the coefficient) multiplied by 10 raised to a power (known as the exponent)

dimensional analysis

a systematic approach to problem solving that uses conversion factors to move, or convert, from one unit to another

conversion factor

a ratio of equivalent values having different units

accuracy

refers to how close a measured value is to an accepted value

precision

refers to how close a series of measurements is to one another

error

the difference between an experimental value and the accepted value

percent error

expresses error as a percentage of the accepted value

significant figures

include all known digits plus one estimated digit

graph

a visual display of data

independent variable

the variable that a scientist deliberately changes during an experiment

dependent variable

the variable whose value depends on, or changes in response to, the independent variable