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Chapter 8: Problem 11

You are given a dark shiny solid and asked to determine whether it is iodine or a metallic element. Suggest a nondestructive test that would enable you to arrive at the correct answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
To determine if the dark shiny solid is iodine or a metallic element, one can carry out an electrical conductivity test and a scratch test. If the solid conducts electricity and retains its shine after scratching, then it is a metallic element. Otherwise, it is iodine.

Step by step solution

01

Electrical Conductivity Test

The primary test you can perform is an electrical conductivity test. To do this, one can connect a battery, bulb, wire and the solid in a series electrical circuit. If the bulb lights up, then the solid conducts electricity and it confirms that it is a metallic element, since non-metals (like iodine) do not conduct electricity.
02

Appearance after Scratch Test

Another test to be carried out is the scratch test. Using a sharp object, gently scratch the surface of the solid. Metals tend to keep their shiny appearance after being scratched, whereas iodine will not.
03

Conclusion based on the tests

If the solid conducts electricity and retains its shiny appearance after being scratched, then it is a metallic element. If the solid does not have these properties, then it is iodine.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Group these electron configurations in pairs that would represent similar chemical properties of their atoms: (a) \(1 s^{2} 2 s^{2} 2 p^{6} 3 s^{2}\) (b) \(1 s^{2} 2 s^{2} 2 p^{3}\) (c) \(1 s^{2} 2 s^{2} 2 p^{6} 3 s^{2} 3 p^{6} 4 s^{2} 3 d^{10} 4 p^{6}\) (d) \(1 s^{2} 2 s^{2}\) (e) \(1 s^{2} 2 s^{2} 2 p^{6}\) (f) \(1 s^{2} 2 s^{2} 2 p^{6} 3 s^{2} 3 p^{3}\)

Draw a rough sketch of a periodic table (no details are required). Indicate where metals, nonmetals, and metalloids are located.

Give the physical states (gas, liquid, or solid) of the representative elements in the fourth period at 1 atm and \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}: \mathrm{K}, \mathrm{Ca}, \mathrm{Ga}, \mathrm{Ge}, \mathrm{As}, \mathrm{Se}, \mathrm{Br}\).

Without referring to a periodic table, write the electron configurations of elements with these atomic numbers: (a) \(9,\) (b) \(20,\) (c) \(26,\) (d) 33. Classify the elements.

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