
Concept explainers
Discuss how a hypothesis can become a theory. Can a theory become a law? Explain.

Interpretation:
It needs to be discussed as to how a hypothesis can become a theory and a theory can become a law. It implies that we need to identify interrelationship or interdependencies between Hypothesis, Theory and Law.
Concept Introduction:
- Hypothesis.
- Hypothesis is a calculation made from the gathered data.
- It is the process of observing things and trying to correlate the observation with the phenomenon.
- The hypothesis thus madeis used to explain something.
- Theories.
- Hypothesis forms the basis of formation of theories.
- Generalized statements are created from the hypothesis. These statements can be either equations or principles. That is when a hypothesis becomes a theory.
- In scientific language, theory is simply referred to as a rule or a law.
- Law.
- In common terms, a law is a rule created to perform a certain act or process. Likewise, in scientific terms, law refers to specific rules that are to be applied to be able to perform certain chemical, scientific or mathematical processes.
- Natural law is also referred to as scientific law.
- It is necessary for any law to be applied for certain specific conditions only.
- Any such law always represents cause-effect relationships.
- A statement must portray certain aspects of the universe for it to be a scientific law and must be based on repeated experimental evidence.
- Any scientific or a natural law always takesthe form of an expression, a statement or a mathematical equation.
Answer to Problem 1ALQ
There is always interdependence between a Hypothesis, a Theory and a Law. A Hypothesis becomes a Theory and a Theory is made up of thousands of Laws.
Explanation of Solution
A hypothesis is one that is untested and is mostly subjective. It describes the thought process of how a scientist thinks about a certain thing. However, a theory is tested and is mostly objective in nature. It helps one identify how one can confirm something to be, now or in the future. Theory is true all the time. Hypotheses transform into theories whenit is backed up with proper evidences.
Hypothesis can be a guess of any type. One can estimate events, facts, and eventheories. Theories are mostly well-defined sophisticated models that are built and undergo refined processes. A hypothesis is, however, made to be as precise as possible. Much of the hypothesizing can be transformed into a theory, and thre is no need for them to have a one-to-one correlation.
Hypothesis is only an idea or a proposal that one can come up with in order to try and elucidate a set of observations. A hypothesis, however, needs to always have the following characteristics:
- It must be possible to falsify or disprove a hypothesis.
- It must be testable.
- It must possess a predictive values.
Let us now discuss about how a theory transforms into a law:
Just as a building is made up of many bricks, nails, windows, cement, doors, concrete, etc and as an encyclopaedia is made up of thousands of different topics and information, a theory is also composed of scientific facts, laws, and other evidences.
In the case of a scientific law, it is always applies to all the situations, places, almost at all times. For instance, Ohm's Law is given by the formula I=V/R, which implies that in an electrical circuit, the current that flows through it is always equal to the ratio of voltage to the resistance. This law is significant in case one is working with electricity since it applies to any electrical circuit, but it does not divulge details on what the amperage is or why it is equal to voltage divided by resistance or what can be done with the given information.
To summarise, laws tell us what is most likely to or will definitely happen. Theories, on the other hand, explain how certain things happen and why.
There is always interdependence between a Hypothesis, a Theory and a Law. Hypothesis becomes a Theory and a Theory is made up of thousands of Laws.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 1 Solutions
Introductory Chemistry: A Foundation
- What are examples of analytical methods that can be used to analyse salt in tomato sauce?arrow_forwardA common alkene starting material is shown below. Predict the major product for each reaction. Use a dash or wedge bond to indicate the relative stereochemistry of substituents on asymmetric centers, where applicable. Ignore any inorganic byproducts H Šali OH H OH Select to Edit Select to Draw 1. BH3-THF 1. Hg(OAc)2, H2O =U= 2. H2O2, NaOH 2. NaBH4, NaOH + Please select a drawing or reagent from the question areaarrow_forwardWhat is the MOHR titration & AOAC method? What is it and how does it work? How can it be used to quantify salt in a sample?arrow_forward
- Predict the major products of this reaction. Cl₂ hv ? Draw only the major product or products in the drawing area below. If there's more than one major product, you can draw them in any arrangement you like. Be sure you use wedge and dash bonds if necessary, for example to distinguish between major products with different stereochemistry. If there will be no products because there will be no significant reaction, just check the box under the drawing area and leave it blank. Note for advanced students: you can ignore any products of repeated addition. Explanation Check Click and drag to start drawing a structure. 80 10 m 2025 McGraw Hill LLC. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Center | Accessibility DII A F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 EO F11arrow_forwardGiven a system with an anodic overpotential, the variation of η as a function of current density- at low fields is linear.- at higher fields, it follows Tafel's law.Calculate the range of current densities for which the overpotential has the same value when calculated for both cases (the maximum relative difference will be 5%, compared to the behavior for higher fields).arrow_forwardUsing reaction free energy to predict equilibrium composition Consider the following equilibrium: N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) = 2NH3 (g) AGº = -34. KJ Now suppose a reaction vessel is filled with 8.06 atm of nitrogen (N2) and 2.58 atm of ammonia (NH3) at 106. °C. Answer the following questions about this system: rise Under these conditions, will the pressure of N2 tend to rise or fall? ☐ x10 fall Is it possible to reverse this tendency by adding H₂? In other words, if you said the pressure of N2 will tend to rise, can that be changed to a tendency to fall by adding H2? Similarly, if you said the pressure of N will tend to fall, can that be changed to a tendency to rise by adding H₂? If you said the tendency can be reversed in the second question, calculate the minimum pressure of H₂ needed to reverse it. Round your answer to 2 significant digits. yes no ☐ atm Х ด ? olo 18 Ararrow_forward
- Four liters of an aqueous solution containing 6.98 mg of acetic acid were prepared. At 25°C, the measured conductivity was 5.89x10-3 mS cm-1. Calculate the degree of dissociation of the acid and its ionization constant.Molecular weights: O (15.999), C (12.011), H (1.008).Limiting molar ionic conductivities (λ+0 and λ-0) of Ac-(aq) and H+(aq): 40.9 and 349.8 S cm-2 mol-1.arrow_forwardDetermine the change in Gibbs energy, entropy, and enthalpy at 25°C for the battery from which the data in the table were obtained.T (°C) 15 20 25 30 35Eo (mV) 227.13 224.38 221.87 219.37 216.59Data: n = 1, F = 96485 C mol–1arrow_forwardIndicate the correct options.1. The units of the transport number are Siemens per mole.2. The Siemens and the ohm are not equivalent.3. The Van't Hoff factor is dimensionless.4. Molar conductivity does not depend on the electrolyte concentration.arrow_forward
- Ideally nonpolarizable electrodes can1. participate as reducers in reactions.2. be formed only with hydrogen.3. participate as oxidizers in reactions.4. form open and closed electrochemical systems.arrow_forwardIndicate the options for an electrified interface:1. Temperature has no influence on it.2. Not all theories that describe it include a well-defined electrical double layer.3. Under favorable conditions, its differential capacitance can be determined with the help of experimental measurements.4. A component with high electronic conductivity is involved in its formation.arrow_forwardTo describe the structure of the interface, there are theories or models that can be distinguished by:1. calculation of the charge density.2. distribution of ions in the solution.3. experimentally measured potential difference.4. external Helmoltz plane.arrow_forward
- Chemistry: The Molecular ScienceChemistryISBN:9781285199047Author:John W. Moore, Conrad L. StanitskiPublisher:Cengage LearningChemistry: Matter and ChangeChemistryISBN:9780078746376Author:Dinah Zike, Laurel Dingrando, Nicholas Hainen, Cheryl WistromPublisher:Glencoe/McGraw-Hill School Pub CoChemistry: An Atoms First ApproachChemistryISBN:9781305079243Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. ZumdahlPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Introductory Chemistry: A FoundationChemistryISBN:9781337399425Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCostePublisher:Cengage Learning


