Q.1.10 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Identify each of the following as an observation, a hypothesis, an experiment, or a conclusion: 

a. Sally thinks she may be allergic to shrimp. 

b. Yesterday, one hour after Sally ate a shrimp salad, she broke out in hives. 

c. Today, Sally had some soup that contained shrimp, but she did not break out in hives. 

d. Sally realizes that she does not have an allergy to shrimp. 

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a. Hypothesis

b. Observation

c. Observation

d. Conclusion

Step 1: Given Information

We need to determine observation, experiment, hypothesis, and conclusion for the given events.

Step 2: Explanation

The scientific method is a process that scientists use to make observations to explain natural phenomena. It includes:

1. Observation
2. Experiment
3. Hypothesis
4. Conclusion

Observations: It is considered as the first step of the scientific method about what you observe.

Hypothesis: It gives an explanation for an observation. 

Experiments: To determine if a hypothesis is true or false, experiments are done to find a relationship between the hypothesis and the observations.

Conclusion/Theory: A conclusion is made after the experiments are analyzed.

Step 3: Analysis of each event

a. It is a hypothesis.

b. It is an observation.

c. It is an observation.

d. It is a conclusion.