Question

mickey had three substances. he hit each of them with a hammer. a red substance was malleable and easily flattened. a white crystal cracked but did not break. a silver substance flattened but did not crack. which two statements could be true? a. the red substance is ionic. b. the white substance is ionic. c. the silver substance is ionic. d. the silver substance is a metal.

Explanation:

• Ionic compounds are brittle. When hit, they tend to crack. The white crystal cracked (a property of ionic compounds), so the white substance could be ionic (statement B).
• Metals are malleable (can be flattened). The silver substance flattened (a property of metals), so the silver substance could be a metal (statement D).
• Ionic compounds are not malleable like the red substance described. Metals are malleable, not ionic. So statements A and C are incorrect as the red and silver substances don't match ionic properties (red is malleable - not ionic; silver is malleable - more likely metal).

Answer:

B. The white substance is ionic; D. The silver substance is a metal.