Scientific Method- Chemistry

Formulate a Hypothesis Ex

After talking with his teacher and conducting further research, he comes up with a hypothesis. "If more sugar is added, then the bread will rise higher."

Constants

All other factors stay the same so that any observed changes in the bread can be attributed to the variation in the amount of sugar. They might include: Other ingredients to the bread recipe, oven used, rise time, brand of ingredients, cooking time, type of pan used, air temperature and humidity where the bread was rising, oven temperature, age of the yeast...

Communicate the Results

Be prepared to present the project to an audience. Expect questions from the audience.

Experiment

Develop and follow a procedure. Include a detailed materials list. The outcome must be measurable (quantifiable).

Control Group

In a scientific experiment, the control is the group that serves as the standard of comparison. The control group may be a "no treatment" or an "experimenter selected" group. The control group is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the variable being tested. All experiments should have a control group. Because his grandmother always used 50g. of sugar in her recipe, John is going to use that amount in his control group.

Conclusion

Include a statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis. Make recommendations for further study and possible improvements to the procedure.

Collect and Analyze Results Ex.

John comes up with a table he can use to record his data. John gets all his materials together and carries out his experiment. John examines his data and notices that his control worked the best in this experiment, but not significantly better than 100g. of sugar.

Conclusion Ex.

John rejects his hypothesis, but decides to re-test using sugar amounts between 50g. and 100g. John finds that 70g. of sugar produces the largest loaf. His hypothesis is accepted

Observation/Research Ex.

John researches the areas of baking and fermentation and tries to come up with a way to test his question. He keeps all of his information on this topic in a journal.

Problem/Question Ex.

John watches his grandmother bake bread. He asks his grandmother what makes the bread rise. She explains that yeast releases a gas as it feeds on sugar. John wonders if the amount of sugar used in the recipe will affect the size of the bread loaf.

Experiment Ex.

John writes out his procedure for his experiment along with a materials list in his journal. He has both of these checked by his teacher where she checks for any safety concerns. Trials Trials refer to replicate groups that are exposed to the same conditions in an experiment. John is going to test each sugar variable 3 times.

Collect and Analyze Results

Modify the procedure if needed. Confirm the results by retesting. Include tables, graphs, and photographs.

Dependent Variable

The dependent, or responding variable, is the factor that may change as a result of changes made in the independent variable. (on Y-axis) In this case, it would be the size of the loaf of bread.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is an educated guess about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Independent Variable

The independent, or manipulated variable, is a factor that's intentionally varied by the experimeter. (on x-axis) John is going to use 25g., 50g., 100g., 250g., 500g. of sugar in his experiment.

Problem/Question

To Develop a question or problem that can be solved through experimentation

Observation/Research

To Make observations and research your topic of interest.

Formulate a Hypothesis

To Predict a possible answer to the problem or question. Example: If soil temperatures rise, then plant growth will increase.

The Scientific Method

involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.