Why should you heat the upper portion of the liquid rather than the bottom? This is with the use of a test tube...
2006-11-23 07:18:03 · 2 answers · asked by mysterio 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Heating the test tube just below the meniscus helps prevent bumping. Bumping is what happens when you form a pocket of vapor under a layer of liquid. The result would be the liquid splurshing (technical term) out of the tube.
The tubes' design facilitates heat convection so there's little worry of heating the fluid unevenly.
2006-11-23 07:32:19 · answer #1 · answered by Luha 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you heat it at the bottom it will form gas bubbles at the bottom that will burst out the top and spatter you and everyone around with hot liquid. (You ARE wearing goggles, right?). If you heat it at the top the bubbles will escape without splashing and the heat will slowly spread throughout the entire liquid, evenly.
2006-11-24 16:35:33 · answer #2 · answered by The Old Professor 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋