Science - Convection

Aim: To observe convection in a liquid

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

Method: Set up a Bunsen burner on a heatproof mat. Put the gauze mat on the tripod but leave it to just 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 on one side of the beaker, ensuring that the straw is touching the bottom of the beaker.

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

Observations: The water turned purple pretty quickly and I didn't have to wait long for the experiment to start working.