Particle Theory Of Matter - Convection

Aim: To observe convection in a liquid.

Equipment: 200mL beaker, water, tweezers, a crystal of potassium permanganate, a drinking straw, Bunsen Burner, heat mat, tripod and gauze mat.

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 200mL beaker with 150 mL cold water.

3. Place the beaker on top of the tripod and gauze mat 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 don't want to disturb the water too much.

5. Using tweezers, drop a crystal potassium permanganate down the 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 where the crystal is. Observe.

Observations:
As we took away the straw from the water the potassium permanganate went to the surface of the water and then spread across the beaker. 

Discussion: 
When the potassium permanganate was released, as it was heated it raised up. Because when the particle is heated more it tends to move around more. This reduces the solidity of the substance making it rise up. In conclusion, this experiment was about observing convection which was interesting.