Theory and Experiment in Physical Chemistry

A possible reason for carrying out an experiment and analyzing the data is to test one notion, concept, model, hypothesis, or theory, or else possibly to select from among several competing theories. If the data do not coniform to what is anticipated by some particular theory, then its validity is challenged. In such a circumstance, one may devise a new notion, concept, or theory to better fit the data, or possibly reject one concept in favor of another. Whatever new idea emerges is then tested in still further experiments. 

Many problems in physical chemistry are analyzed with approximations or idealizations that make the mathematics of the analysis less complicated or that offer a more discernible physical picture. Experimental data and analysis offer a validation or a rejection of the approximation. 

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