Introduction to chemistry 2
CHEMISTRY SSS1 First Term
WEEK 2
Introduction to chemistry 2
Performance objectives
Students should be able to:
- The adverse effect of chemicals in our everyday life
- Explain the various steps involved in the scientific method of inquiry.
Content
The adverse effect of chemicals in our everyday life
Chemistry is one of the most important branches of science which makes it impossible to imagine life without it. It is such a vast and interesting subject that it is very difficult to write everything sufficiently. Chemistry exists everywhere. Right from what we are wearing to what we are eating to where we are living. Chemistry has a very wide range of applications in everyday life. It is difficult to point out where it doesn’t exist. However, besides the benefits, there are bad sides also. First of all synthetic fibers are not eco-friendly as they cannot be decomposed by the microorganisms. The same goes for plastic bags. They surely degrade land fertility. Though the tablets are made, they have too many side-effects too. Over-dosage of tablets will kill any life. Too many chemicals or careless use of it in agriculture makes the food samples unhealthy and might cause serious effects. Chemicals released into nature by industries, laboratories, etc. contaminates nature and it in return contaminates our food and water, and also air. Rivers are contaminated and aquatic life is affected too.
Chemicals that are widely used in cosmetics and personal care products can cause changes in women's reproductive hormones. Common household cleaning products may influence children's gut bacteria and cause obesity. The production of narcotics, cocaine is synthetic drugs made with the help of chemistry but these drugs have been abused by humans and it has also lead to the loss of many lives.
Scientific method
When conducting research, scientists use the scientific method to collect measurable, empirical evidence in an experiment related to a hypothesis (often in the form of an if/then statement), the results aiming to support or contradict a theory. At the core of chemistry and other sciences lies a problem-solving approach called the scientific method. The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback step:
- Make an observation.
- Ask a question.
- Form a hypothesis or testable explanation.
- Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
- Test the prediction.
- Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or predictions.
The scientific method is used in all sciences—including chemistry, physics, geology, and psychology. The scientists in these fields ask different questions and perform different tests. However, they use the same core approach to find answers that are logical and supported by evidence.
1. Make an observation.
Observation is the act of noticing something or judgment or inference from something seen or experienced. This is the first step of scientific method inquiry and it is very vital in finding solutions to a particular problem.
2. Ask a question.
In-order to find solutions to a particular problem, critical questions are asked.
3. Propose a hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a potential answer to the question, one that can somehow be tested. This hypothesis is not necessarily the right explanation. Instead, it's a possible explanation that we can test to see if it is likely correct, or if we need to make a new hypothesis.
4. Make predictions.
A prediction is an outcome we'd expect to see if the hypothesis is correct. In this case, we might predict that if the electrical outlet is broken, then plugging the toaster into a different outlet should fix the problem.
5. Test the predictions.
To test the hypothesis, we need to make an observation or perform an experiment associated with the prediction.
The results of a test may either support or contradict—oppose—a hypothesis. Results that support a hypothesis can't conclusively prove that it's correct, but they do mean it's likely to be correct. On the other hand, if results contradict a hypothesis, that hypothesis is probably not correct. Unless there was a flaw in the test—a possibility we should always consider—a contradictory result means that we can discard the hypothesis and look for a new one.
6. Iterate.
The last step of the scientific method is to reflect on our results and use them to guide our next steps.