Question

a student would like to determine how heating a liquid changes its volume. the student hypothesizes that the liquid will increase in volume. the following list shows the steps taken by the student in order to test the hypothesis.
i. select the liquid to test.
ii. place the liquid in a sealed container.
iii. use a bunsen burner to heat the liquid by 10°c.
iv. measure the volume of the liquid.
v. record the results.
what is wrong with how the student conducted the investigation?
a. the volume of the liquid should be measured before it is heated.
b. the student should have increased the temperature of the liquid by more than 10°c.
c. the length of time it took for the liquid to be heated should be measured.
d. the hypothesis was not valid because it is impossible for liquids to change in volume.

Explanation:

To determine how heating a liquid changes its volume, a baseline volume measurement before heating is necessary for comparison. Measuring only the volume after heating doesn't provide information on the change.

Answer:

A. The volume of the liquid should be measured before it is heated.