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School chemisrty question
SJ - 15/9/15 at 05:55 PM

Anyone know how you would test is a product of a chemical reaction is a metal?

My son is stuck with his science and I don't know the answer. The question is Carbon and Lead oxide are mixed and heated. The reaction produces shiny beads. How do you test to see if they are a metal?

Thanks

Stu

[Edited on 15/9/15 by SJ]

steve m - 15/9/15 at 06:04 PM

magnet ?

JoelP - 15/9/15 at 06:05 PM

How old is your lad? The question must be tied into the syllabus for the course or year, ie there must be something about what precisely defines a metal.

Myself I'd filter them out, melt them into a bar, measure melting point, compare to known metals or alloys. Check conductivity.

SJ - 15/9/15 at 06:12 PM

No, not all metals are magnetic and things other than metal conduct electricity.

SJ - 15/9/15 at 06:15 PM

He's 13 but I can't find anything in the syllabus or texts that gives a clear answer.

SteveWalker - 15/9/15 at 06:19 PM

You test by inspection. Take a look at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/chemical_material_behaviour/atoms_elements/revision/7/

[Edited on 15/9/15 by SteveWalker]

AndyW - 15/9/15 at 06:21 PM

My guess is you would get lead. Carbon is used to extract metals from their ores (as oxides or sulphides). It is mixed and heated with the oxides to extract the metal.

Slimy38 - 15/9/15 at 06:37 PM

Start here?

http://www.chemicool.com/definition/metals.html

theduck - 15/9/15 at 06:40 PM

At GCSE level you would identify by inspection, so appearance, density etc.

At A-level you would work out the reaction and the end product.

cliftyhanger - 15/9/15 at 07:29 PM

Electrical conductivity. all metals conduct. OK, graphite does too, but conductivity is a very good indicator. Add in simple inspection, ie shiny, malleable you are there.
Only ferrous metals (and not all of them!) plus nickel and cobalt are magnetic.

SJ - 15/9/15 at 07:33 PM

Thanks guys. It looks like the answer is a combination of inspection (shiny so can't be carbon) and electrical conductivity.

Stu

02GF74 - 15/9/15 at 08:27 PM

From way way back, definition of metal is it is a good conductor of electricity.

Carbon would fall into semi conductor category.

Re shiny, not necessarily as some oxidise eg lead and aluminium, copper... depends how long you look at it.

Metals can be soft eg lithium, sodium or liquid at room temp, mercury.


[Edited on 15/9/15 by 02GF74]

gremlin1234 - 15/9/15 at 08:36 PM

quote:
shiny so can't be carbon
unless diamond...

02GF74 - 15/9/15 at 08:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
quote:
shiny so can't be carbon
unless diamond...


.....which isnt shiny by reflecting light off the surface,, the shinyness comes from internal reflections on the cut facets, pure diamond being transparent.

geoff shep - 15/9/15 at 09:08 PM

Isn't it something to do with metal oxides being basic and all non-metal oxides being acidic. So probably heat it up and oxidise it, dissolve it in water, then test the pH.

[Edited on 15/9/15 by geoff shep]

James - 15/9/15 at 09:38 PM

You have to see if it weighs more or less than a duck!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g

maccmike - 15/9/15 at 10:29 PM

Put it in microwave

02GF74 - 16/9/15 at 03:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by maccmike
Put it in microwave


.... which is effectively testing electrical conductivity.

Better off putting the duck in the microeave, dead ofcourse.

Going slightly OT, what would you feel if you put your hand in a microwave? youre heating up the water in the blood and cells, would it feel hot even though the sensor on the skin arent being stimulated?

Student next to me worked on a system of setting up several microwaves beams so they focus at the same point inside the human body to destroy tumours, always wondered if the patient would feel anything.


.... and no, i cant try it out as i dont own one.

Mr Whippy - 16/9/15 at 12:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by maccmike
Put it in microwave