Q.1.9 - 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. One hour after drinking a glass of regular milk, Jim experienced stomach cramps.

b. Jim thinks he may be lactose intolerant. 

c. Jim drinks a glass of lactose-free milk and does not have any stomach cramps.

d. Jim drinks a glass of regular milk to which he has added lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, and has no stomach cramps.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a. Observation

b. Hypothesis

c. Experiment

d. Experiment

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 an observation.

b. It is a hypothesis.

c. It is an experiment.

d. It is an experiment.