UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Week 1 CONTENT 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Definitions of Chemistry Applications of Chemistry The Scientific Method Applications of the Scientific Method Scientific Law vs Theory At the end of this unit students should be able to: 1. Define Chemistry and cite some of the various applications of the subjects. 2. Outline the steps involved in the scientific method and justify the relevance of each step. 3. Apply the scientific method to investigating a simple problem. 4. Differentiate between a Law and a theory. 1.1 Definition of Chemistry Chemistry is the branch of science that studies the composition, structure and properties of all materials as well as the changes that these materials can undergo. When a chemical change occurs, the chemicals produced are very different from the starting materials. UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 1.2 Applications of Chemistry Chemistry is the central science and touches our lives every day. Many other subjects that we study like physics, biology, and nutrition include some topics that involve chemistry. Some form of chemistry is involved in the following: the food we eat and digest to produce energy; the medications we take to alleviate and cure our illnesses; the chemicals that are manufactured to make a wide variety of products for consumption, clothing, transportation industry, household purposes etc. It is the job of chemists to design, develop, manufacture, analyse, the different materials in order to solve the many problems that are present in our world. UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 1.3 The Scientific Method How do we go about solving the everyday problems that we encounter? We have to employ critical thought processes to guide our actions before we act and not just employ a trial-and-error approach. The better our problem solving skills are the easier it is for us to get a job and a good one at that. In science, and in extension everyday life, even though each problem is different from another, in order to solve them we have to employ a general, but logical approach. In the 17th century, Robert Boyle founded the scientific method. The scientific method is a guideline for systematic investigation of scientific and technical problems in nature and requires proposing an explanation for the results of an experiment in the form of a general principle. UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 There are six (6) elements in the scientific method. These elements DO NOT always appear in the same order as it depends on the nature of the problem to be solved. The steps are fluid. Step 1: Identify and state the problem or ask the question. For example, why is my favourite meal not tasty today? Once you have your question or have identified the problem you can form a tentative hypothesis. Step 2: Build a hypothesis. The hypothesis is a simple statement that defines what you think the outcome of your experiment will be. It is a tentative, but reasonable explanation of the facts. No UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 experiment is required to form this reason. For example, salt is lacking from my pot which is why it is not tasty!! Alternatively, if I add salt to my pot, it will become tastier!! Step 3: Make observations and collect data related to the problem. For example, what ingredients did I add to the pot. Step 4: Experiment. Now it is time to test your hypothesis. Here you carry out your proposed plan. For example, I can add small amounts of salt and re taste. You may need to remake additional observations after carrying out the experiment and collecting data. Step 5: Analyse the result. Now, the taste of my favourite meal is much improved. Step 6: Conclusion. This is the final step in the scientific method. This is a summary of the experiment's results, and how those results match up to your hypothesis. Voila! My food wasn’t as tasty due to the fact that I left out the salt. You have two options for your conclusions: based on your results, either (1) you can REJECT the hypothesis, or (2) you can ACCEPT the hypothesis. YouTube Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVf11wat2y8 UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 Scientific Law vs Theory A scientific theory is what one or more hypothesis become once they have overwhelming support through repeated testing. A theory is valid as long as there is no evidence to dispute it. Therefore, theories can be disproven. One definition of a theory is to say it's an accepted hypothesis. A law is a logical relationship between two or more entities. It generalizes a body of constantly repeated observations. It is also a specific statement based on empirical data under a certain set of conditions. At the time it is made, no exceptions have been found to a law. Laws are the cornerstone of science so if it were to ever be false, any science built on it would also be false. Examples of Laws For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction Momentum is the product of a body’s mass and its acceleration. If I jump from the roof, I will fall to the ground. UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 Now, develop your own scientific method based on a problem you conceive. Try to be original. 1.4 Application of the Scientific Method Problem – What are you trying to figure out? Write this in the form of a question. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Hypothesis – What do you think you are going to find out? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Materials – List the materials you will use in the experiment. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Procedures – Make a detailed list of the steps in your experiment. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Results – What did you observe when you performed the experiment? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Conclusion – From what you observed, how would you answer your original question? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 QUIZ Qu 1: The first step of the scientific method involves: forming a hypothesis. state the problem and make observations. performing an experiment. predicting the result of an experiment Qu 2: A pattern or relationship that has been established based on a large amount of experimental data is a: theory hypothesis law Qu 3: Q: Which of the following is most correct: You can accept or reject a hypothesis, but never prove it to be true. You can prove a hypothesis to be true. You can prove a hypothesis to be false. Accepting or rejecting a hypothesis is the same as proving whether or not the hypothesis is true. UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA FACULTY OF SCIENCE & SPORT COURSE OF STUDY: ALL YEAR: 1 SEMESTER: 1 MODULE: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY CODE: CH1021/CHY0001 Qu 4: ________________ is a/an extensively tested proposal of a scientific principle that states a measurable relationship under different experimental conditions. Qu 5: ________________ is a/an tentative proposal of a scientific principle that attempts to explain the meaning of a set of data collected in an experiment. Qu 6: Name at least five professions and industries in which chemistry plays an important role.
