CHAPTER

A1 Introducing Science

Learning outcomes:

You will learn:

• To define the term science

• To observe laboratory rules in the science laboratory

• To identify and use common laboratory apparatus

• To name some famous scientists and describe their discoveries

• To discuss and evaluate uses and benefits of science and technology to

society

• To state the benefits and abuses of technology

CHAPTER
A1 Introducing Science

Before you begin, write down

some questions about what you

want to find out in this chapter.

CHAPTER
A1 Introducing Science

What is Science
Science:
The study of the
things in this world

Scientist:
A person who
studies and Technology:
practices science The application of
scientific knowledge
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A1 Introducing Science

Gathering information, elaborating

• Here are some other branches of science:
– Astronomy, medicine, botany, meteorology
• Can you suggest other branches of science? What is
studied in each? Use your dictionary if necessary.
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A1 Introducing Science

• Astronomy – the study of the Sun, the Moon, the planets and
the stars.
• Medicine – the study of the prevention and cure of diseases.
• Botany – the study of plants.
• Meteorology – the study of the weather.
Other examples include: Zoology – the study of animals;
Psychology – the study of the mind; Genetics (a branch of
biology) – the study of heredity, the ways whereby
characteristics are passed on from parents to offspring.
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A1 Introducing Science

Different branches of science

Main branch The study of:
Agriculture Farming

Biology Living things

Chemistry Substances
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A1 Introducing Science

Different branches of science

Main branch The study of:
Rocks and the
Geology structure of the
Earth

Physics Natural forces

and energy
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A1 Introducing Science

Other branches

Other branch The study of:

Astronomy Celestial
objects

Botany Plant life

Zoology Animal life

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A1 Introducing Science

Other branches
Other branch The study of:

Microbiology Microorganisms

Physiology The mechanical, physical

and biochemical functions
of living organisms

Nuclear Physics Nucleus of atoms

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A1 Introducing Science

Interdisciplinary branches of science

Modern branch of science The study of:

Bio-chemistry Chemistry of life processes
(Chemistry and Biology)
Bio-statistics Application of statistics to
(Biology and Mathematics) biology
Material Sciences Properties of matter and its
(Chemistry and Physics) application to science and
engineering
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A1 Introducing Science
Famous scientists
(19th Century)
• Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895)
– Developed a cure for rabies and cholera
– Found out how to kill bacteria in milk
• Gregor Johann Mendel (1822 – 1884)
– Father of modern genetics
– Study the inheritance of genetic traits
• Charles Robert Darwin (1809 – 1882)
– Theory of evolution
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A1 Introducing Science
Famous scientist
(20th/21st Century)
• Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
– Theory of relativity
– Nobel Prize in Physics (1921)
• Marie Curie (1867 – 1934)
– Discovered radioactive metals such as radium
– Nobel Prize in Physics(1903)
• James Dewey Watson (1928 - ), Francis Crick
(1916 – 2004) & Maurice Wilkins (1916 – 2004)
– Discover the structure of the DNA
– Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine (1962)
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A1 Introducing Science

Famous scientists
(20th/21st Century)
• Sydney Brenner (1927 - )
– One of the pioneers in molecular biology (Protein translation)
– Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine (2002)
– Former chairman of the Biomedical Research Council
(Singapore)
– Made an honorary Singapore citizen for his contributions
• Sally Ride (1951 - )
– Carry out scientific experiments in space
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A1 Introducing Science

Asian scientists
• Hideki Yukawa (1907 – 1981)
– Japanese theoretical physicist
– Nobel Prize in Physics (1949)
• Kenichi Fakui (1918 – 1998)
– Japanese chemist
– Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1981)
• Lee Yuan Tseh (1936 – )
– Taiwan-born chemist
– Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1986)
• Daniel C. Tsui (1939 - )
– China-born American physicist
– Nobel prize in Physics (1998)
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A1 Introducing Science
Questions that have not been or cannot be
answered by scientists

• Will a typhoon strike our country tomorrow?

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A1 Introducing Science
Questions that have not been or cannot be
answered by scientists

• When exactly an earthquake will occur, and where will

the epicenter be?
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A1 Introducing Science
Questions that have not been or cannot be
answered by scientists

• Is there life in outer space?

Can you think of more?
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A1 Introducing Science

Possible work place of scientists

• Laboratory
• Space shuttle
• Forest
• Sea
• Antarctica
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A1 Introducing Science

The science laboratory

• What do we do in a laboratory?
– Find out things by doing experiments
– Examples of experiments:

Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis

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A1 Introducing Science
Besides laboratory experiments, other
scientific methods include:
• Observational study
• Field study
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A1 Introducing Science

“Unusual” laboratories

Scientists at work under

water

Astronauts at work in
space
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A1 Introducing Science

Elaborating
• Can you give examples of other kinds of laboratories
other than those found in Fig. A1.5?
• Give examples of where science is not carried out in a
laboratory.
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A1 Introducing Science
Laboratory safety rules
(The Dos)
• Read all instructions carefully and carry out the
experiments accordingly. When unsure, always seek
help from your teacher.
• Keep the laboratory clean and tidy.
• Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes when using
chemicals or when heating.
• Tell your teacher if you have an accident, spill
anything, or break anything.
• Wash your hands when you have completed an
experiment.
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A1 Introducing Science
Laboratory safety rules
(The Don’ts)
• Do not
– Enter the laboratory without your teacher’s permission
– Eat or drink in the laboratory
– Taste any chemicals
– Play or run in the laboratory
– Put solids into the sink
– Pour any unused chemicals back into their containers, as this
may cause contamination
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A1 Introducing Science
Laboratory safety rules
Identify the Dos and the Don’ts in a science laboratory and drag them into the
respective boxes.
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A1 Introducing Science

Incidents of accidents in laboratory

• Improper handling of the SARS virus
– 2 researchers in Singapore and 1 visiting Taiwanese researcher
from Taiwan were infected in September 2003 [Source: Wikipedia]
– >90 people around them had to be quarantined
– 2 other incidents reported in Taiwan in December 2003 and
China in April 2004 [Source: Ann Acad Med Singapore 2006;35:354-60]
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A1 Introducing Science

Laboratory apparatus
For the purpose of heating and boiling

Bunsen burner Test tube

Test tube
Wire gauze
holder

Tripod stand Crucible

Evaporating
Watch glass
dish
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A1 Introducing Science
Laboratory apparatus
For the purpose of measurement

Measuring cylinder

Pipette

Burette

Beam balance
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A1 Introducing Science

Laboratory apparatus
For the purpose of mixing chemicals and chemical analysis

Beaker Conical flask

Dropping
Filter funnel
bottles

Reagent
Glass stirrer
bottles
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A1 Introducing Science

Laboratory apparatus -- Revision

Match the apparatus to its name by dragging the correct apparatus into the box
CHAPTER
A1 Introducing Science

Hazard warning symbols

Toxic substances Eg. Alcohol, Mercury

Flammable substances Eg. Petrol,

Alcohol

Eg. Concentrated
Corrosive substances
acids, household oven
cleaner

Harmful or irritating Eg. Ammonia solution,

substances Dilute acids
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A1 Introducing Science

Other hazard warning symbols

[source: Safeguards in the school laboratory, 11th Edition]

Harmful for the Eg. Carbon tetrachloride

environment

Carcinogenic Eg. Benzene

substances

Oxidising Eg. Potassium chlorate

chemicals

Non-ionising Eg. Xenon gas

radiation
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A1 Introducing Science

What is technology?
• Technology:
– The application of scientific knowledge
• Different fields of technology
– Medical/Pharmaceuticals

– Industrial (Machinery)

– Information/Communications

– Measuring instruments

– New products/Chemicals/Materials
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Benefits of technology
• The development of computers
– Improved the speed at which we do
our work
– Improved the access to a wider
source of knowledge
• The development of plastics
– Provided us with many light-weight
and water-proof materials
• The development of mobile
phones
– Made communication easier and
faster
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A1 Introducing Science

Benefits of technology

• The development of medicine

– Made more diseases curable
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A1 Introducing Science

Benefits of technology

• The development of fertilisers

and genetically cloned plants
– Increased the production of food
– Improved the quality of food
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A1 Introducing Science

Abuses of technology
• Scientific knowledge
have been used to cause
harm
Examples of technology
that led to harm:
Atomic bombs (e.g.
WWII);
Biological warfare (e.g.
use of anthrax)
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A1 Introducing Science

Abuses of technology
• Improper and even
excessive use of
useful technology can
also cause harm

Pollution (e.g. disposal of non-biodegradable plastics;

excess fertilisers entering rivers; burning of fossil
fuels to supply electricity)

Social problems (e.g. use of internet for criminal

activities, addiction to the use of the internet and
computer games)
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Group discussion
• In small groups, suggest how science has benefited
the following people:
– A cook
– An artist
– A nurse
– An office worker
• Select one of these people and present your ideas to
the rest of the class