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

Multiple Choice

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) hypothesis
B) interpretation
C) prediction
D) result
E) theory