CHEMISTRY 1

Overview
Observation plays a vital role in experimentation. It is where a problem can be drawn, and data can
be derived. It is important that you know the different types of observation. Qualitative and quantitative
observations are utilized whenever there is an experimentation. To establish whether your hypothesis is
supported or accepted, a general rule in experimentation must be obeyed: vary only one variable at a time to
clearly see its effect while keeping the other variable unchanged. A variable is a factor affecting experimental
results. In this lesson you are expected to:

• Differentiate qualitative from quantitative observation.

• Identify the independent, dependent, and controlled variables

LESSON
SCIENTIFIC METHOD:
1B DATA AND ANALYSIS
Qualitative observations use your senses to observe the results. (Sight, smell, touch, taste and hear.) The
information to be considered as qualitative refers to color, texture, smell, taste or quality of sound.
Quantitative observations are made with instruments such as rulers, balances, graduated cylinders,
beakers, and thermometers. This basically is expressed in numbers.
QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATION
(DESCRIBABLE) (COUNTABLE)
Examples: Examples:
 Tall Building  24 K Gold
 Blue sky  5’10” ft. height
 Sweet Ice cream  25 Kg of coffee
 Loud noise  10 ml of Hydrogen peroxide
 Smooth skin  36.6 ⁰C body temperature
Step number 4 requires an experimenter to perform or conduct an experiment. Experimentation is
the way how to test whether your hypothesis is correct or wrong. Included in the experiment are listing of
materials, instruments, apparatus, and supplies needed; laying-out of the procedures to be followed; and
using of diagrams and tables. The success of every experiment depends also on the variables under test.

A variable is a factor affecting experimental results.

An independent variable is a variable that is changed in the experiment.
SET UP A SET UP B SET UP C

PESTICIDE: 0 mL PESTICIDE: 50 mL PESTICIDE: 100 mL

In this example, the amount of pesticide is changed for each set up. It is the independent variable.
Dependent variable is a variable that responds to the change. It is the one measured in the experiment.
SET UP A SET UP B SET UP C

PESTICIDE: 0 mL PESTICIDE: 50 mL PESTICIDE: 100 mL

HEIGHT OF PLANT : 10 cm HEIGHT OF PLANT : 20 cm HEIGHT OF PLANT : 25 cm

In this example, the height of the plant responds to the change in the amount of pesticide. The height
of the plant is the one measured in the experiment. It is the dependent variable.

However, the results of your experiment can prove your hypothesis wrong. Experiments should have
at least two set-ups.

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 Control Set-up Experimental Set-up

Used as a reference or standard in comparing the The set-up which has the independent variable
results of the experimental set-up (factor being tested)

Generally, the control set-up is the one that does not have the independent variable while the
experimental set-up contains the factor being tested
SET UP A SET UP B SET UP C

PESTICIDE: 0 mL PESTICIDE: 50 mL PESTICIDE: 100 mL

HEIGHT OF PLANT: 10 cm HEIGHT OF PLANT: 20 cm HEIGHT OF PLANT: 25 cm

In this example, Set-up A has no pesticide. The information observed from set-ups B and C should be
compared with the results of Set-up A which is the control set-up. In this example, Set-ups B and C are the
experimental set-ups. The results of the experimental set-ups are compared against the control set-up to
determine the effects of the changes in the independent variable.

SAMPLE PROCESS

Step No. 1. Identifying the problem

The problem must deal with something that is measurable and observable. It may be an open-minded
question which can be answered through an experiment.
EXAMPLE: What is the effect of pesticide overuse on the fertility of loam soil?
Step No. 2. Gathering of preliminary data
It is very important that preliminary information about the problem is gathered carefully. You may use
the internet, library, and media in gathering necessary data.
Step No. 3. Formulating a hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or a possible answer to the question or problem you are
studying. It is also known as an educated guess to your problem.
This may be stated as:
If (I do this), then (this will happen).
EXAMPLE: If the pesticide is overused, then the fertility of the loam soil will be reduced which
will stunt the growth of plants.
Step No. 4. Conducting the experiment.
Let’s apply the steps in this example by listing down the materials to be used in this experiment.
LIST OF MATERIALS
QUANTITY UNIT ITEMS
3 Pieces Corn plants, 25 cm
3 Pieces Clay pots, same size
3 Packs Loam soil
1 Piece Ruler
1 Piece Laboratory notebook
Prepared pesticide
Water

Next is to perform the following steps.

11 Gather materials
Fill 3/4 of the pots Plant one corn plant
2 with loam soil. 3 to each pot.

Preparing the data tables before carrying out the experiment can help in systematically gathering
and interpreting the experimental data.

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 TABLE 1: HEIGHT OF THE CORN PLANTS
Set-up Height (cm) in Number of Days

0 3

TRIAL 1 2 3 AVE 1 2 3 4 AVE

The last part of Step 4 is conducting the actual experiment.

Set up A Set up B Set up C

Corn plant Corn plant Corn plant
Loam soil Loam soil Loam soil
No pesticide 50 mL pesticide 100 mL pesticide
(normal amount) (2x the normal
amount)

TABLE 2: RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENT

SET UP A SET UP B SET UP C
PESTICIDE: 0 mL PESTICIDE: 50 mL PESTICIDE: 100 mL
AVERAGE HEIGHT OF AVERAGE HEIGHT OF AVERAGE HEIGHT OF
PLANT: 10 cm PLANT: 20 cm PLANT: 25 cm

Step No. 5. Collecting and interpreting the data.

This step requires skills on data gathering ang organizing. Each interpretation of the data gathered
can be achieved when they are presented in charts or tables. To confirm the validity of the results, several
trials of the experiment are needed to be conducted.

TABLE 3: Tabular Representation of Observed Data (Qualitative Data)

SET-UP GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A Good growth but leaves are attacked with worms and insects.
B Good growth with healthy leaves free from worms and insects.
C Stunted growth with shrunk leaves but free from worms and insects.

The data below were obtained using a ruler and were done 5 times during the whole duration of the
experiment.
TABLE 4: Tabular Representation of Numerical Data (Quantitative Data)
Height (cm) in Number of Days
Set
0 3 5 10 15
-up
TRI 1 2 3 AVE 1 2 3 AVE 1 2 3 AVE 1 2 3 AVE 1 2 3 AVE
A 25 25 25 25 40 42 40 40.7 70 70 68 69.3 120 122 125 122.3 180 190 185 185
B 25 25 25 25 50 50 51 50.3 90 90 88 89.3 150 155 156 153.7 210 220 215 215
C 25 25 25 25 50 50 49 49.7 60 60 58 59.3 70 68 70 69.3 80 78 80 79.33

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Step No. 6. Drawing a conclusion
The last step in the scientific method is drawing a conclusion. You learned that a conclusion is a
statement that answers the problem or a statement that either accepts or rejects the hypothesis. Below is an
example of an experiment that supported the hypothesis leading to the drawing of conclusion.

The results of the experiment We therefore conclude that pesticide overuse will reduce the
support the hypothesis. fertility of loam soil resulting to the stunted growth of corn plants.

Step No. 7. Verifying the conclusion.

Verification of the conclusion is very important to establish the validity of the results. This can be done
by:
✔ Repeating the experiment using the same procedure and conditions.
✔ Performing similar experiment by the same person or by another experimenter.
✔ Recommending the experiment for further study or improvements.
✔ Communicating or presenting the results to others.

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 SCIENCE 7: Assessment 1.2
Name: ____________________________________________________Date:________________
Grade/Section: ________________________________Teacher: MR. JEROME L. HIZON

A. Read the short article below. Identify the qualitative and quantitative observations mentioned in the
article. Write them on the designated baskets below.
While Kyline stays at home due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, she has more opportunity of helping her mother
in the garden. She notices that they have 10 plants in their small garden. Some of these have violet leaves
while most have green ones. She also discovers that there is this fig tree that grows taller than her. In the
morning she notices 3 beautiful butterflies visiting their flowers. She helps her parents in watering the plants.
She uses 2 pails of water that equals to 4 L. In the afternoon, she removes dried and brown-colored leaves
that are still attached to the branches.

QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATION

(DESCRIBABLE) (COUNTABLE)

B. Analyze the situation below then answer the questions that follow.

A biologist set up an experiment to study 3 lizards. On the first day of his study, he measured the mass of the
three specimens. He made sure that all lizards weigh 100 grams. Then the lizards were put into individual
cages with the following environmental conditions.
Lizard 1 Lizard 2 Lizard 3
Light per day: 12 hours 12 hours 12 hours
Food: 10 grams 10 grams 10 grams
Temperature: 30⁰C 30⁰C 30⁰C
Cage 3ft x 1ft 3ft x 1ft 3ft x 1ft
Exercise No exercise/day Leash walk or 3ft /day Leash walk or 6ft/day
Mass on the fifth day: 150g 130 g 110g

Answer the following:

1. What is the independent variable?_____________________________________________________
2. What is/are the dependent variables?__________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which among the set-ups is the control set-up?__________________________________________
4. Which of them is/are the experimental set-ups?__________________________________________
5. Based on the result of the experiment, what conclusion can be drawn from this?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

Name: ________________________________________________________________Date:________________
Grade/Section: ____________________________________________Teacher: MR. JEROME L. HIZON

LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1
SCIENTIFIC METHOD

NOTE: The teacher will provide video showing what happen in the experimentation.

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Read and analyze the simple experiment presented below.
Rein, a Grade 7 student, wants to know why window grills and bridges are often coated with paints.
She knew for a fact that these things are made of a hard metal known as steel. She then asked a question,
what if these bridges and grills will not be coated with paints? What will happen to them? With her knowledge
about scientific method, she decided to perform a simple experiment using steel wool and other materials that
are found at home. Then, she prepared the following set-ups and placed them in their kitchen for 4 days.

SET UP A SET UP B SET UP C SET UP D

Steel wool only Steel wool Steel wool Steel wool

2 tbsp vinegar 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp water

On the 4th day of his experiment, she noticed that rusts develop in each set-up. She noted the following
observations: The steel wool in Set-up A developed small amount of rust, Set-up B on the other hand showed
a steel wool covered heavily with rust, while Set-up C showed significant amount of rust on the steel wool and
Set-up C also grew small amount of rust on the material.
It is now your time to help Reyn finish her experiment by filling out the Scientific Method Outline provided
below. Write your answer on a separate answer sheet. Your output will be graded using the rubric provided
below.

LABORATORY REPORT

Title: ______________________________________________________________________
I. Problem: ___________________________________________________________________
II. Hypotheses:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
III. Materials:________________________________________________________________
IV. Procedures:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
V. Results (this portion will be provided by the teacher)
A. Set-up (Drawing)
B. Observation/Table

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 A. B.

C. Interpretation
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

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