What is a scientific theory?

Subject : Chemistry

Question: What is a scientific theory?

A. a reasonable guess based on instinct

B. an imaginative idea explaining natural phenomena

C. a broad, evidence-based explanation for a phenomenon

D. a tentative statement with little or no predictive power

Expert Verified Solution:

A scientific theory is:

C. a broad, evidence-based explanation for a phenomenon

Explanation:

A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence and has stood up to repeated testing and scrutiny. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding a range of phenomena and can make predictions about future observations.

A reasonable guess based on instinct (Option A) is more akin to a hypothesis or an initial idea, not a scientific theory.

An imaginative idea explaining natural phenomena (Option B) might describe a concept or hypothesis but lacks the rigorous evidence and testing required for a scientific theory.

A tentative statement with little or no predictive power (Option D) describes a hypothesis or a preliminary observation rather than a well-established scientific theory.