Questions 5
You are given a hammer, a battery, a bulb, wires and switch.
(a) How could you use them to distinguish between samples of metals and non-metals?
(b) Asses the usefulness of these tests in distinguishing between metals and non-metals?
(a) Method 1 — On striking with hammer if the sample takes the shape of a sheet, it is a metal. A non-metal will break into pieces, hence, the two can be distinguished.
Method 2 — Set up an electric circuit using a battery, a bulb, wires and switch as shown in the figure below.
Place the element to be tested between the terminals A and B. If the bulb glows, then the sample is a metal, if not, then it is a non-metal.
(b) Method 1 — When struck by hammer, metals being malleable turn into sheets whereas non-metals being brittle break into pieces.
Method 2 — Metals are good conductors of electricity, hence the bulb glows whereas non-metals are poor conductors of electricity.