Question

3. You are given a hammer, a battery, a bulb, wires
and a switch
(a) How could you use them distinguish between
Metals and non-metals ?
(1) Assess the usefulness of these testo in distinguish
between metal and non metals?​

Answer 1

Answer:

we can make a circuit using the objects which you have given

Answer 2

Answer:

By looking at the materials given above, it is clear that we need to test for conductivity and malleability.

• By connecting the battery, bulb and the switch using the wires, we can make a testing circuit to test for conductivity. By connecting the two ends of the wires to the opposite ends of the given material, we can identify whether it a metal or a non-metal. If the bulb glows, clearly the given material is conductive and hence, most likely, it is a metal. If the bulb doesn't glow, it means that the given substance is most likely a non-metal.

        Exceptions: Graphite.

• By beating the given the given material with a hammer, we can test for the material's malleability. If the material is flattened into a foil then, it is most likely a metal. However, if that doesn't happen, it is most likely a a non-metal.

        Exceptions: Metals like zinc which are brittle and non-metals like diamond which are very hard.

Note: These tests can definitely be used to identify metals from non-metals to some extent. But, they cannot be used to conclusively say whether the given material is a metal or a non-metal.