Chemistry Unit 0 Study Guide
1. Basics of Science & Chemistry
a. Origins
i. Science starts with natural philosophers who thought of solutions but
didn’t test them and alchemists who thought of mystical solutions but
tested them
1. Many alchemists created processes like distillation that we still use
today
ii. The enlightenment and crusades changed this as people began to think
highly and natural philosophers began to actually test their hypotheses
1. Science became quantifiable
b. Antoine LaVoisier
i. Father of modern chemistry
ii. He used his riches to fund chemical experiments
iii. Burnt a diamond and came up with the law of conservation of matter
iv. Made chemistry quantifiable and measurable
c. Scientific Method
i. Developed by Galileo Galilei and Francisco Baron (1500s)
ii. It is a systematic process for answering questions
1. First, you observe and make a hypothesis/guess
a. Observations may be qualitative (looks) or quantitative
(numbers)
b. Hypothesis is usually “if….then”
i. Ex: If the amount of nitrogen is increased, then the
plant will grow more
ii. Ex: If the amount of water is increased in a cell,
then it will explode
2. Experiment Accurately
3. Evaluate the hypothesis with a conclusion
a. Hypothesis was [rejected/confirmed]
d. Theories -> Laws
i. Hypothesis
1. A guess for what occurred; tested by experimentation and may be
correct or not correct. Least trustworthy
ii. Theory (model)
1. Data from many hypotheses combined into one; generally more
trustworthy and explain WHY it is the case. Well tested
explanation for repeated results
, iii. Law
1. Summary of a natural phenomenon based on many experimental
trials. DOES NOT SAY WHY
e. Chemistry
i. Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes
ii. Necessary for other sciences
iii. Produces new things
iv. Types
1. Organic: Dealing with carbon (specifically C + H)
2. Inorganic: NOT dealing with carbon
3. Physical: Dealing with properties/changes of matter and the
relation to energy
4. Analytical: Dealing with identification and composition
5. Biochem: Dealing with life’s processes at a chemical level
6. Theoretical: Using math and computers and applying them to
chemistry
v. Pure v Applied
1. Pure research is research done for the sake of an answer. Not
necessarily to be used for something useful
a. Ex: Trying to find the reaction of Sodium & water not to
make better salt/compounds but to just know the answer
2. Applied Research is research done for a specific goal. It generally
is pure research that is applied to something useful
a. Ex: Trying to find Sodium’s reaction to water to make
better salt specifically
2. Matter
a. Matter
i. Anything that has mass and takes up space (has volume)
ii. Types of Properties
1. Extensive: Rely on how much is present (length, width, mass,
volume)
2. Intensive: Do NOT rely on how much is present (density, color,
etc.)
b. Physical v Chemical Properties
i. Physical properties are properties that can be observed without changing
the composition
1. Color, density
ii. Chemical properties are properties that represent a substance’s ability to
change into other substances
1. Reactivity, Flammability, etc.
1. Basics of Science & Chemistry
a. Origins
i. Science starts with natural philosophers who thought of solutions but
didn’t test them and alchemists who thought of mystical solutions but
tested them
1. Many alchemists created processes like distillation that we still use
today
ii. The enlightenment and crusades changed this as people began to think
highly and natural philosophers began to actually test their hypotheses
1. Science became quantifiable
b. Antoine LaVoisier
i. Father of modern chemistry
ii. He used his riches to fund chemical experiments
iii. Burnt a diamond and came up with the law of conservation of matter
iv. Made chemistry quantifiable and measurable
c. Scientific Method
i. Developed by Galileo Galilei and Francisco Baron (1500s)
ii. It is a systematic process for answering questions
1. First, you observe and make a hypothesis/guess
a. Observations may be qualitative (looks) or quantitative
(numbers)
b. Hypothesis is usually “if….then”
i. Ex: If the amount of nitrogen is increased, then the
plant will grow more
ii. Ex: If the amount of water is increased in a cell,
then it will explode
2. Experiment Accurately
3. Evaluate the hypothesis with a conclusion
a. Hypothesis was [rejected/confirmed]
d. Theories -> Laws
i. Hypothesis
1. A guess for what occurred; tested by experimentation and may be
correct or not correct. Least trustworthy
ii. Theory (model)
1. Data from many hypotheses combined into one; generally more
trustworthy and explain WHY it is the case. Well tested
explanation for repeated results
, iii. Law
1. Summary of a natural phenomenon based on many experimental
trials. DOES NOT SAY WHY
e. Chemistry
i. Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes
ii. Necessary for other sciences
iii. Produces new things
iv. Types
1. Organic: Dealing with carbon (specifically C + H)
2. Inorganic: NOT dealing with carbon
3. Physical: Dealing with properties/changes of matter and the
relation to energy
4. Analytical: Dealing with identification and composition
5. Biochem: Dealing with life’s processes at a chemical level
6. Theoretical: Using math and computers and applying them to
chemistry
v. Pure v Applied
1. Pure research is research done for the sake of an answer. Not
necessarily to be used for something useful
a. Ex: Trying to find the reaction of Sodium & water not to
make better salt/compounds but to just know the answer
2. Applied Research is research done for a specific goal. It generally
is pure research that is applied to something useful
a. Ex: Trying to find Sodium’s reaction to water to make
better salt specifically
2. Matter
a. Matter
i. Anything that has mass and takes up space (has volume)
ii. Types of Properties
1. Extensive: Rely on how much is present (length, width, mass,
volume)
2. Intensive: Do NOT rely on how much is present (density, color,
etc.)
b. Physical v Chemical Properties
i. Physical properties are properties that can be observed without changing
the composition
1. Color, density
ii. Chemical properties are properties that represent a substance’s ability to
change into other substances
1. Reactivity, Flammability, etc.
