Which of the following pieces of information is sufficient to differentiate a sample of sodium from a sample of silver?

• A. The color of the sample
• B. The chemical reactivity of the sample with water
• C. The physical state of the sample at room temperature
• D. The density of the sample

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the properties given in the options and how they relate to sodium and silver. Sodium and silver are both metals, but they have different physical and chemical properties.
2. Step 2: Analyze the color of the samples. Sodium is a soft, silvery-white metal, and silver is also a shiny, metallic silver color. Since their colors are quite similar, color alone is not sufficient to differentiate them.
3. Step 3: Consider the physical state at room temperature. Both sodium and silver are solid metals at room temperature, so this property does not help distinguish between them.
4. Step 4: Examine the density. Sodium has a much lower density than silver, but density measurements require precise equipment and may not be straightforward for quick identification.
5. Step 5: Focus on chemical reactivity with water. Sodium reacts vigorously with water, producing hydrogen gas and a strong base, while silver does not react with water under normal conditions. This difference in chemical reactivity is a clear and practical way to differentiate sodium from silver.