Question

You are given a hammer, a battery, a bulb, wires and a switch.
(a) How could you use them to distinguish between samples of metals and non-metals?
(b) Assess the usefulness of these tests in distinguishing between metals and non-metals.​

Answer 1

Explanation:

(a) With the hammer, we can beat the sample and if it can be beaten into thin sheets (that is, it is malleable), then it is a metal otherwise a non-metal. Similarly, we can use the battery, bulb, wires, and a switch to set up a circuit with the sample. If the sample conducts electricity, then it is a metal otherwise a non-metal.

(b) The above tests are useful in distinguishing between metals and non-metals as these are based on the physical properties. No chemical reactions are involved in these tests.

Answer 2

Answer:

Metals are malleable and can be easily drown into sheets by hitting with hammer. On the other hand if we beat non-metals they break down and they cannot be drawn into sheets as they are non-malleable. Metals of good conductors of electricity hence they make bulb when you connect metals with a battery, wire and bulb. Similarly If non-metals are bad conductors of electricity chance they fail to lit up the bulb on connecting with wire and battery.

These experiments can be helpful to demonstrate the malleability and electric conductivity of the metals and non-metals