Scientific Method

9th grade - Ms. Ayslany Rodrigues

From Alchemy to Chemistry
Studying matter through natural compounds.

Human evolution follows the chemistry mastering

Alchemists developed the tools (beckers, flasks, funnels, mortar and pestle)
and techniques for working with chemicals (slow heat in water bath,
distillation, separation and purifying).
Empiricism
A theory that states that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience.
From Empiricism to Science

Charles II of Britain (1600s) encouraged scientists to discuss

topics and conduct experiments, in order to base their
conclusions on experimental evidence, not on philosophical
debates.
From Empiricism to Science
Law of conservation of mass:

“We may lay it down as an incontestable axiom,

that, in all the operations of art and nature,
nothing is created; an equal quantity of matter
exists both before and after the experiment; the
quality and quantity of the elements remain
precisely the same; and nothing takes place
beyond changes and modifications in the
combination of these elements. Upon this Marie Anne and Antoine Lavoisier

principle the whole art of performing chemical

Antoine Lavoisier
experiments depends.”
Scientific Method
All sciences lies a problem-solving approach called the scientific method.

Scientific method is a logical, systematic approach to the solution of a

scientific problem.

An investigation usually starts with an observation — that is, something that catches the
scientist’s attention.
Scientific Method 1 Observation
Watch the video
An observation can lead to a question.
2 Question
What happened to the cat?

3 Hypothesis
What do you claim?

4 Evidence
Somehow you can prove what you say.
Thinking like a scientist
What happened to the cat?

Claim: A statement (one short sentence) that answers the question, without
explanation, reasoning or evidence - it is your hypothesis.

Evidence: The data, investigations, observations used to support the claim. It

can be either qualitative or quantitative - this is your experiment or the facts.

Reasoning: The explanation of “why and how” the evidence supports the
claim. Should include an explanation of the science concept that produced the
evidence or data - that is your theory.
Scientific Method flowchart
Theory
Once a hypothesis meet the test of repeated experimentations, it may be
raised to a higher level of ideas and become a theory.
A theory sometimes can not be proved, but it
doesn’t mean that it is unreliable.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Scientific Law
A concise statement that summarizes the results of many observations and
experiments.

Law of conservation of mass:

“We may lay it down as an incontestable axiom, that, in all the

operations of art and nature, nothing is created; an equal
quantity of matter exists both before and after the experiment;
the quality and quantity of the elements remain precisely the
same; and nothing takes place beyond changes and
modifications in the combination of these elements. Upon this
principle the whole art of performing chemicalAntoine
experiments
Lavoisier
Hands on!
Regarding to the Alexander Fleming’s idea (slide 9), build his scientific method
following the steps:

1. Observation
2. Question
3. Hypothesis
4. Experiments
5. Theory
6. Law