Chem Unit 1 Vocabulary

A systematic approach used by scientists to investigate natural phenomena, gather data, and formulate and test hypotheses.

• Scientific Method
• Artistic Method
• Philosophical Method
• Historical Method

Zeros that appear at the beginning of a number and do not contribute to the number's value or precision.

• Significant zeros
• Leading zeros
• Trailing zeros
• Decimal zeros

Digits in a measurement that contribute to its precision and convey information about the precision of the measuring instrument.

• Significant figures
• Decimal places
• Fractional parts
• Rounding numbers

The process of gathering information using the senses or instruments to obtain data about a specific phenomenon.

• Observation
• Inference
• Prediction
• Experimentation

A testable and falsifiable explanation or prediction based on prior knowledge and observations.

• Hypothesis
• Theory
• Law
• Fact

The range within which the true value is likely to fall due to limitations in measurement tools and techniques.

• Measurement Error
• Uncertainty
• Precision
• Accuracy

A controlled procedure designed to test a hypothesis and gather data under specific conditions.

• Experiment
• Observation
• Theory
• Hypothesis

Any factor that can change or be controlled in an experiment.

• Variable
• Constant
• Result
• Hypothesis

The variable that is deliberately changed or manipulated in an experiment.

• Dependent Variable
• Control Variable
• Independent Variable
• Extraneous Variable

The variable that is observed and measured as a response to changes in the independent variable.

• Dependent Variable
• Independent Variable
• Control Variable
• Extraneous Variable