Question

During an experiment, it is observed that iron powder sinks in water and sulfur powder floats in water. What will most likely be observed when sulfur powder and iron powder are mixed together and then added to water?

Sulfur will float and iron will sink because each will retain its properties.
Iron will float and sulfur will sink because each will lose its properties.
Both will float because they are physically mixed.
Both will float because they react chemically.

someone pls help me, i literally don't understand chem
Ill give 50 points

Answer 1

Sulfur will float and iron will sink because each will retain its properties.

Step-by-step explanation:

This is the correct answer because sulfur powder and iron powder are two different things, with different properties. Even if they are added to water and mixed around, they still retain their properties since no actual chemical activity was performed on them (they were just mixed by physical means). Hence, the sulfur will float back up, as it does initially, and the iron will sink, as it had initially.

Answer 2

Sulfur will float, and iron will sink because each will retain its properties.

“Iron will float, and sulfur will sink because each will lose its properties” is incorrect. A substance will lose its properties only if it reacts to form a new substance.

“Both will float because they are physically mixed” is incorrect. The substances in a mixture retain their properties.

“Both will float because they react chemically” is incorrect. Iron and sulfur do not react at room temperature. Even if they did, the iron sulfide would sink.