Science

Aim: To observe convection in a liquid

Method:
1. Set up a Bunsen burner on a heatproof mat. Put the gauze mat on the tripod but leave it just to one side of the Bunsen burner.
2. Fill a 200 ml beaker with 150 ml cold water.
3. Place the beaker on top of the tripod and gauze and allow it to settle for a few minutes.
4.Carefully insert a drinking straw down one side of the beaker, ensuring the straw is touching the bottom of the beaker. Be careful as you do not want to disturb the water too much.
5. Using tweezers, drop a crystal of potassium permangante down inside of the straw. Wait for the crystal to settle on the bottom of the beaker.
6. Very gently, so to not disturb the water, remove the straw.
7. Light the Bunsen and slide it under the tripod so that you are only heating the outside of the beaker the the crystal is. Observe

Results:


Discussion:
We saw the potassium permangante expand in the water.The water rises because it's less dense. Also the potassium permangante is more dense so it would expand.