Chapter 1

What is Chemistry?
Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it
undergoes.
For example, what happens when water evaporates?
What holds the water molecules together? What
causes the water molecules to go into the gas phase?
Chemistry is the science that seeks to understand
what matter does by studying what atoms and
molecules do.
Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass.
Four sub-disciplines of chemistry: physical, analytical,
organic and inorganic.

Scientific Method (Simplified)

What is the scientific method?
The scientific method involves several steps.
1. Formulation of a hypothesis, which is a tentative explanation
for an observation.
2. Designing an experiment to test your hypothesis.
3. Performing experimental work (measurements) with use of
sensitive instruments to collect data. Data are the careful
observations obtained during experimentation.
4. Analyzing data to see if it supports or not, your hypothesis.
5. If it does support your hypothesis, you further investigate. If
it does not support your hypothesis, you need to alter or
discard your hypothesis.
6. A hypothesis that has been thoroughly tested may become a
theory.

Definitions
Your hypothesis my become a theory if several
experiments consistently support your hypothesis.
A theory: think of a theory as a simple model. A
model that helps explain an observation. A model
that has been thoroughly tested. A model that can
make predictions on future observations.
A scientific law has is universally accepted b/c it has
been thoroughly tested over and over and is always
supported by experimentation.

Definitions
A law is usually represented in the form of a
mathematical equation with no explanation.
For example, P = C/V or E = mc2.
Matter cannot be created or destroyed in a
chemical reaction (scientific law)
So what is the difference between a
hypothesis and a theory?
So what is the difference between a theory
and a scientific law?

Scientific Law
So what is a scientific law?
A brief statement about a phenomena that is
widely accepted.
E = mc2 (Law of Relativity)
The Law of Conservation of Mass: matter
cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical
reaction (Antoine Lavoisier)

Lets Apply the Scientific Approach.

The work of Sir Alexander Fleming
His work with Penicillium notatum

Why a Theory and Not a Law?

Big Bang Theory, the evidence:
1. Universe is expanding at a very high rate.
2. Cosmic radiation (microwave radiation) was detected
in 1965.
3. Only He, not H, was detected for an exploding star in
1995 (relax, you dont need to know what this
means)
So why a theory and not a scientific law?
Controversial theory that is not widely accepted.
Thus, it is not the Big Bang Law

Lets practice
Classify each statement as an observation, a law,
or a theory.
a. The star closest to Earth is moving away from
Earth at high speed.
b. A body in motion stays in motion unless acted
upon by a force.
c. The universe began as a cosmic explosion called
the Big Bang.
d. A stone dropped from an altitude of 450 m falls
to the ground in 9.6 s.

Lets practice
Classify each of the following statements as a
hypothesis, a law, or a theory. (a)
Beethovens contribution to music would have
been much greater if he had married. (b) An
autumn leaf gravitates toward the ground b/c
there is an attractive force between the leaf
and Earth. (c) All matter is composed of very
small particles called atoms.

 A student measures the volume of a gas

sample at several different temperatures. The
results are tabulated as follows. Formulate a
tentative law from the measurements.
Temperature (K)
298
315

Volume (L)
4.55
4.81

325
335

4.96
5.11

Homework
Chapter 1: 17, 19
Turn in to me on a piece of paper please.