Scientists want to determine whether chemical X, a component of fertilizer, is harmful to fish. They treat fish in the laboratory with increasing amounts of the chemical for one week and then measure their viability. When researchers designed this experiment, they wrote "chemical X is toxic to fish" in their lab notebook. This statement is a(n) ____.
A) interpretation
B) prediction
C) hypothesis
D) result
E) theory

Question

Scientists want to determine whether chemical X, a component of fertilizer, is harmful to fish. They treat fish in the laboratory with increasing amounts of the chemical for one week and then measure their viability. When researchers designed this experiment, they wrote "chemical X is toxic to fish" in their lab notebook. This statement is a(n) ____.
A) interpretation
B) prediction
C) hypothesis
D) result
E) theory

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement "chemical X is toxic to fish" is a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. It is what the researchers aim to support or refute through their experiment.

Scientists Want to Determine Whether Chemical X, a Component of Fertilizer