1. Make an observation.

2. Ask a question.
3. Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation.
4. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
5. Test the prediction.
6. Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or predictions.

The scientific method is used in all sciences—including chemistry, physics,

geology, and psychology. The scientists in these fields ask different
questions and perform different tests. However, they use the same core
approach to find answers that are logical and supported by evidence
In order to ask an important question that may improve our understanding of the
world, a researcher must first observe natural phenomena. By making observations,
a researcher can define a useful question. After finding a question to answer, the
researcher can then make a prediction (a hypothesis) about what he or she thinks
the answer will be. This prediction is usually a statement about the relationship
between two or more variables. After making a hypothesis, the researcher will then
design an experiment to test his or her hypothesis and evaluate the data gathered.
These data will either support or refute the hypothesis. Based on the conclusions
drawn from the data, the researcher will then find more evidence to support the
hypothesis, look for counter-evidence to further strengthen the hypothesis, revise
the hypothesis and create a new experiment, or continue to incorporate the
information gathered to answer the research question.
Example of the Scientific Method
To better understand the process of the scientific method, take a look at the
following example:

 Observation: My toaster doesn’t work.

 Question: Is something wrong with my electrical outlet?
 Hypothesis: If something is wrong with the outlet, my coffeemaker
also won’t work when plugged into it.
 Experiment: I plug my coffeemaker into the outlet.
 Result: My coffeemaker works!
 Conclusion: My electrical outlet works, but my toaster still won’t
toast my bread.
 Refine the hypothesis: My toaster is broken.

From this point, the process would be repeated with a refined hypothesis.
Learning Targets: I can a. describe the nature of matter b. classify matter c. give examples of
the different classification of matter

What is your body made of? Your first thought might be that it is made up
of different organs—such as your heart, lungs, and stomach—that work
together to keep your body going. Or you might zoom in a level and say that
your body is made up of many different types of cells. However, at the most
basic level, your body—and, in fact, all of life, as well as the nonliving world
—is made up of atoms, often organized into larger structures called
molecules.
The term matter refers to anything that occupies space and has mass—in other words, the “stuff”
that the universe is made of. All matter is made up of substances called elements, which have
specific chemical and physical properties and cannot be broken down into other substances
through ordinary chemical reactions. Gold, for instance, is an element, and so is carbon. There
are 118 elements, but only 92 occur naturally. The remaining elements have only been made in
laboratories and are unstable.

Each element is designated by its chemical symbol, which is a single capital letter or, when the
first letter is already “taken” by another element, a combination of two letters. Some elements
follow the English term for the element, such as C for carbon and Ca for calcium. Other
elements’ chemical symbols come from their Latin names; for example, the symbol for sodium is
Na, which is a short form of natrium, the Latin word for sodium.

The four elements common to all living organisms are oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and
nitrogen (N), which together make up about 96% of the human body. In the nonliving world,
elements are found in different proportions, and some elements common to living organisms are
relatively rare on the earth as a whole. All elements and the chemical reactions between them
obey the same chemical and physical laws, regardless of whether they are a part of the living or
nonliving world.

Classifying matter
Another way of thinking about matter is from the chemist’s viewpoint. The following
diagram shows a way of classifying matter with elements and compounds very much in
mind.
 Matter can be classified into several categories. Two broad categories are mixtures and pure
substances. A pure substance has a constant composition. All specimens of a pure substance
have exactly the same makeup and properties. 
Pure substances may be divided into two classes: elements and compounds. Pure
substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical changes are
called elements. Iron, silver, gold, aluminum, sulfur, oxygen, and copper are familiar
examples of the more than 100 known elements, of which about 90 occur naturally on
the earth, and two dozen or so have been created in laboratories.
Pure substances that can be broken down by chemical changes are called compounds.
This breakdown may produce either elements or other compounds, or both.
A mixture is composed of two or more types of matter that can be present in varying
amounts and can be separated by physical changes, such as evaporation (you will learn more
about this later). A mixture with a composition that varies from point to point is called
a heterogeneous mixture. Italian dressing is an example of a heterogeneous mixture.
A homogeneous mixture, also called a solution, exhibits a uniform composition and appears
visually the same throughout. An example of a solution is a sports drink, consisting of water,
sugar, coloring, flavoring, and electrolytes mixed together uniformly. 
 
 
 

Reference/s: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/236-matter-in-our-world Links to
an external site.
 
 
Learning Targets: I can a. describe the nature of matter b. classify matter c. give examples of
the different classification of matter

What is your body made of? Your first thought might be that it is made up
of different organs—such as your heart, lungs, and stomach—that work
together to keep your body going. Or you might zoom in a level and say that
your body is made up of many different types of cells. However, at the most
basic level, your body—and, in fact, all of life, as well as the nonliving world
—is made up of atoms, often organized into larger structures called
molecules.

The term matter refers to anything that occupies space and has mass—in other words, the “stuff”
that the universe is made of. All matter is made up of substances called elements, which have
specific chemical and physical properties and cannot be broken down into other substances
through ordinary chemical reactions. Gold, for instance, is an element, and so is carbon. There
are 118 elements, but only 92 occur naturally. The remaining elements have only been made in
laboratories and are unstable.

Each element is designated by its chemical symbol, which is a single capital letter or, when the
first letter is already “taken” by another element, a combination of two letters. Some elements
 follow the English term for the element, such as C for carbon and Ca for calcium. Other
elements’ chemical symbols come from their Latin names; for example, the symbol for sodium is
Na, which is a short form of atrium, the Latin word for sodium.

The four elements common to all living organisms are oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and
nitrogen (N), which together make up about 96% of the human body. In the nonliving world,
elements are found in different proportions, and some elements common to living organisms are
relatively rare on the earth as a whole. All elements and the chemical reactions between them
obey the same chemical and physical laws, regardless of whether they are a part of the living or
nonliving world.

Classifying matter
Another way of thinking about matter is from the chemist’s viewpoint. The following
diagram shows a way of classifying matter with elements and compounds very much in
mind.

Matter can be classified into several categories. Two broad categories are mixtures and pure
substances. A pure substance has a constant composition. All specimens of a pure substance
have exactly the same makeup and properties. 
Pure substances may be divided into two classes: elements and compounds. Pure
substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical changes are
 called elements. Iron, silver, gold, aluminum, sulfur, oxygen, and copper are familiar
examples of the more than 100 known elements, of which about 90 occur naturally on
the earth, and two dozen or so have been created in laboratories.
Pure substances that can be broken down by chemical changes are called compounds.
This breakdown may produce either elements or other compounds, or both.
A mixture is composed of two or more types of matter that can be present in varying
amounts and can be separated by physical changes, such as evaporation (you will learn more
about this later). A mixture with a composition that varies from point to point is called
a heterogeneous mixture. Italian dressing is an example of a heterogeneous mixture.
A homogeneous mixture, also called a solution, exhibits a uniform composition and appears
visually the same throughout. An example of a solution is a sports drink, consisting of water,
sugar, coloring, flavoring, and electrolytes mixed together uniformly. 

 
 
 

Reference/s: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/236-matter-in-our-world Links to
an external site.