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.

Explanation

(a) A circuit would be made as shown in the figure. If with the test material, the bulb glows on turning the switch on, then the material is possibly a metal.

(b) The above method is pretty useful except for graphite which even though is a non-metal, is a good conductor of electricity.