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Chemistry Fundamentals and Experimental Design

May 20, 2025

Chemistry and Experimental Design Lecture Notes

Part 1: Chemistry Basics

Key Concepts of Chemical Reactions

  • Products of Chemical Reactions:
    • Chemical reactions result in the formation of products such as molecules and atoms.
  • Rearrangement of Atoms:
    • Atoms rearrange by forming and breaking bonds with other atoms, leading to the creation of new substances.

Important Vocabulary

  • Atom: The smallest unit of matter, forming the fundamental components of all substances.
  • Chemical Reaction: A process where atoms rearrange, leading to new substances.
  • Model: A representation or tool that helps in understanding complex concepts.
  • Product: The substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction.
  • Property (Chemical, Physical): Observable characteristics, such as color, smell, and boiling point.
  • Reactant: The initial substances involved in a chemical reaction.
  • Rearrange: Changing the order or position of components.
  • Scale: Refers to the relative size of things.
  • Substance: Consists of the same type of atoms or groups of atoms.

Additional Chemistry Terms

  • Boiling: Transition of a liquid into a gas.
  • Chemical Change: Formation of a new substance via a chemical reaction.
  • Chemical Equation: Representation of a chemical reaction showing the atoms involved.
  • Compound: A chemical formula consisting of two or more types of atoms.
  • Dissolving: Mixing a substance with a liquid to form a solution.
  • Element: A pure substance made of one type of atom, listed on the periodic table.
  • Freezing: Transition of a liquid to a solid.
  • Heterogeneous Mixture: A mixture where individual components are not evenly mixed and are distinguishable.
  • Homogeneous Mixture: A mixture with evenly mixed individual substances.
  • Mass: A measure of the amount of matter in an object.
  • Matter: Occupies space and has mass; composes all objects.
  • Melting: Transition of a solid to a liquid.
  • Phase Change: The transition between states of matter.
  • Physical Change: Matter changes form without a chemical reaction, with no new substances formed.
  • Thermal Energy: Heat energy.

Part 2: Experimental Design

4Q Strategy for Experimentation

  • Available Materials: Identify and utilize easily accessible materials for experiments.
  • Behavior of Materials: Understand how materials act under certain conditions.
  • Modification of Conditions: Alter materials to study changes in behavior.
  • Measurement of Responses: Develop methods to measure or describe outcomes from changes.

Vocabulary for Experimental Design

  • Constants: Variables that remain unchanged to ensure a valid experiment.
  • Dependent Variable (DV): The observed effect resulting from the independent variable.
  • Experiment: A scientific test of a hypothesis to determine if the independent variable affects the dependent variable.
  • Independent Variable (IV): The factor manipulated in an experiment to study its effects.
  • Hypothesis: A testable idea often structured as "If (IV), then (DV)."
  • Observation: Gathering data through sensory experiences (e.g., texture, smell, color).
  • Repeated Trials: Conduct the same experiment multiple times for accuracy.
  • Validity: The degree to which an experiment measures what it intends to measure; having only one IV increases validity.
  • Variable: Any factor that can vary or change during an experiment.

Practical Applications

  • 4Q and EDD (Experimental Design Diagram): Tools to design, conduct, and evaluate scientific experiments effectively.