CHAPTER 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY SOLUTIONS TO REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. (a) A hypothesis is a tentative explanation of certain facts to provide a basis for further experimentation. A theory is an explanation of the general principles of certain phenomena with considerable evidence to support it. (b) A theory is an explanation of the general principles of certain phenomena with considerable evidence to support it. A scientific law is a simple statement of natural phenomena to which no exceptions are known under the given conditions. 2. (a) hypothesis (b) hypothesis (c) observation (d) theory (e) observation (f) scientific law 3. (a) A liquid has a definite volume but not a definite shape. (b) A gas has an indefinite volume and high compressibility. (c) A solid has a definite shape. (d) A liquid has an indefinite shape and slight compressibility. 4. A crystalline solid has a regular, repeating, three-dimensional, geometric pattern. An amorphous solid does not. (a) A solid that has a regular, repeating pattern is a crystalline solid. (b) A plastic solid is amorphous. (c) A solid that has no regular repeating pattern is amorphous. (d) Glass is an amorphous solid. (e) Gold is a crystalline solid. 5. A phase is a homogeneous part of a system separated from other parts by a physical boundary. 6. There are six phases present. 7. Another name for a homogeneous mixture is solution. 8. Alcohol, mercury, and water are the only liquids in the table which are not mixtures. Mercury is an element; alcohol and water are compounds.