Chapter 1 : Introduction to Chemistry Flashcards
What are the four Greek Elements?
Fire, Water, Earth. Air
What are the four properties associated with the Greek elements?
Hot, Dry, Wet, Cold
Define: Science
Methodical exploration of nature followed by a logical explanation of the observation.
To practice science you need to plan an investigation, record observations, gather data, and analyze the results.
Define: Experiment
Exploring nature in controlled conditions. Executed
Define: Scientific Method
A systematic investigation that involves performing an experiment, proposing a hypothesis, and stating a theory or law that explains a scientific principal
Define: Hypothesis
An initial, tentative proposal of a scientific principal that attempts to explain the meaning of a set of data collected in an experiment.
A hypothesis may be rejected, modified, or accepted and elevated to be called a scientific principal
Define: Theory
An extensively tested proposal of a scientific principal that explains the behavior of nature
Define: Natural Law
States a measurable relationship, does not explain behavior
What are the steps of the scientific method
- Perform a planned experiment, make observations, and record data
- Analyze the data and propose a tentative hypothesis to explain the experimental observations
- Conduct additional experiments to test the hypothesis. If the evidence supports the initial proposal, the hypothesis may become a scientific theory
According to the greek philosopher Thales in 600 BC what single element composed earth, air, and space?
water
According to ancient Chinese beliefs, what two forces were responsible for bringing the earthly world into existence?
Yin (feminine) and Yang (masculine)
According to the greek philosopher Aristotle in 350 BC what five basic element composed everything in nature?
Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Ether
According to the greek philosopher Empedocles in 450 BC what four basic elements composed everything in nature?
Air, Earth, Fire and Water
Who is considered the founder of the scientific method?
Robert Boyle
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?
A hypothesis is an initial proposal that is tentative
A theory is a proposal that has been tested extensively
What is the different between a scientific theory and a natural law?
A scientific theory is not measurable and a natural law is
Who is generally considered the founder of modern chemistry?
Antoine Lavoisier
What question can we ask to distinguish a natural law from a scientific theory?
Is the proposal measurable?
Define: natural law
States a measurable relationship, does not explain behavior
Define: Alchemy
A pseudoscience that attempted to convert a base metal, such as lead, into gold
A medieval science that sought to discover a universal cure for disease and a magic potion for immortality (did not withstand time)
Who was Antoine Lavoisier?
He was considered to be the founder of modern chemistry because of his many contributions
Define: chemistry
the branch of science that studies the composition and properties of matter
divided onto many branches or specialties
Define: organic chemistry
the study of chemical substances that contain the element carbon
the study of carbon containing compounds
Define: inorganic chemistry
the study of chemical substances that do not contain the element carbon
