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.

(a) To distinguish between samples of metals and non-metals using the given materials, you can perform the following tests:

Conductivity Test: Connect the battery, bulb, wires, and switch in a circuit. Then, connect the sample to be tested in the circuit. If the bulb lights up, it indicates that the sample is a metal as metals are good conductors of electricity. If the bulb does not light up, it suggests that the sample is a non-metal.

Hardness Test: Use the hammer to strike the sample. If the sample produces a sound, it is likely to be a metal as metals are sonorous. If the sample does not produce a sound, it is likely to be a non-metal.

(b) These tests can be useful in distinguishing between metals and non-metals to some extent. The conductivity test helps identify metals, which are good conductors of electricity, while the hardness test helps identify metals, which are sonorous. However, these tests may not be conclusive as there can be exceptions and variations in the properties of different metals and non-metals. Therefore, additional tests and observations may be required for a more accurate distinction.

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