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 "If chemical X is toxic, the fish will begin to look sick and die." This statement is a(n) ____.
A) interpretation
B) theory
C) hypothesis
D) result
E) prediction

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 "If chemical X is toxic, the fish will begin to look sick and die." This statement is a(n) ____.
A) interpretation
B) theory
C) hypothesis
D) result
E) prediction

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A prediction is a statement about the expected outcome of an experiment. In this case, the scientists are predicting that if chemical X is toxic, the fish will begin to look sick and die.

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