Week 1 Chapter 1CHEM – Introduction to Essential Ideas
Chemistry – The study of the composition, properties, and interactions of matter.
The Scientific Method
oHypothesis: Tentative explanation of observations that acts as a guide for gathering and
checking information.
oTheory: Well-substantiated, comprehensive, testable explanation of a particular aspect
of nature.
oLaw: Statement that summarizes a vast number of experimental observations, and
describes or predicts some aspect of the natural world.
The Domains of Chemistry
oMacroscopic Domain
Everything that can be directly observed in the everyday world, such as density,
solubility, and flammability.
oMicroscopic Domain
Everything that needs additional tools to be seen, such as microscopes to view
bacteria. Atoms and molecules are too small to be seen, but they are still very
real.
oSymbolic Domain
Uses specialized language to represent components of the macroscopic and
microscopic domains. These include chemical symbols and chemical equations.
- An example of these domains is water. Water can be directly observed in the macroscopic
domain. Properties can be described as H2O, which enters the symbolic domain. Descriptions of
water freezing and boiling, and the way its molecules change, enters the microscopic realm.
