Final answer:
Immersing a convex lens in a liquid with a refractive index higher than the lens material decreases its ability to converge light, thereby altering its focal length and potentially its converging nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a convex lens is immersed in a liquid with a refractive index greater than that of the lens material (typically glass), the lens' ability to converge light rays changes. A convex lens bends light rays towards the focus because its refractive index is higher than that of air.
However, if the outside medium has a higher refractive index than the lens, the bending effect decreases. This decrease in bending causes the lens to behave more like a flat glass piece rather than a converging one, resulting in a longer focal length. Hence, in a liquid with a higher refractive index than the lens material, a convex lens may lose its converging nature and potentially act as a diverging lens if the refractive index difference is significant enough.