Chapter 1.2: The Scientific Approach

Flashcards from Chapter 1.2 of Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change.

Scientific method

A process involving proposals and tests aimed at objective, verifiable discoveries; includes:

1. Observations (facts that ideas must explain)

2. Hypotheses (a proposal made to explain an observation)

3. Experiments (sets of steps that test hypotheses)

4. Models and theories (a representation of how a phenomena occurs)

Observations

The facts that an idea in the scientific method must explain; can be quantitative or qualitative data

Data

Pieces of quantitative information and observations

Natural law

An observation made by many investigators in many situations with no clear exceptions

Hypothesis

A proposal made to explain an observation that is testable by experiment to further knowledge

Experiment

A set of procedural steps that tests a hypothesis; this usually contains at least two variables and is controlled for accuracy

• Must be reproducible by others

Model

A way of representing how a phenomenon occurs as a simplified representation of nature

Combustion

The process of burning a material in air

• This was found through experimentation, finding that oxygen was necessary — an idea which was later supported by predictions