Chemistry 1.2

Question 1

What are the two types of observations?

Answer 1

Observations can be qualitative, meaning an observation regards the quality of something (the sky is blue, water is a liquid.), and observations can be quantitive, meaning an observation regards the measurement of something (invloving both a number and a unit.)

Question 2

What is the general framework for following the scientific method?

Answer 2

1. Making observations (qualitative and/or quantitive)
2. Formulating a hypothesis (a possible explanation for an observation)
3. Performing experiments in order to decide whether the hypothesis is valid (which is determined if the new information supports the hypothesis.)
   Experimentation usually result in new observations, and that brings one to theorize again

Question 3

When can one formulate a theory?

Answer 3

Once a set of hypotheses that agrees with the various observations is obtained.

Question 4

What is a theory, or a model?

Answer 4

It’s a set of tested hypotheses that give the explanation of an overall explanation of some phenomenon.

Question 5

What’s the difference between a theory and a model?

Question 6

What’s the difference between a theory and an observation?

Answer 6

An observation is something that is witnessed and can be recorded. A theory is an interpretation (an explanation of why nature behaves in a particular way, and theories change as more information becomes available.)