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Imagine you are a geologist, and you discovered an unknown sample of an element. When subjected to a flame test, the unknown element emits a silvery white color. Based on the table below, what could be the probable identity of the element?

a) Aluminum
b) Titanium
c) Tin
d) Magnesium

User Bux
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Final answer:

The silvery white color emitted during a flame test suggests that the element is likely magnesium (Mg), known for its characteristic bright white flame.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you see a silvery white color in a flame test, the element is likely to be magnesium (Mg). This characteristic flame color is indicative of magnesium, one of the options provided in the question. Magnesium burns with a bright white light, which is why it is used in flares, fireworks, and incendiary weapons. Therefore, based on the information provided, the probable identity of the unknown element that emits a silvery white color when subjected to a flame test is magnesium.

We can cross-reference this with some properties of the other elements provided. For instance, aluminum (Al) is commonly known for its high specific heat and excellent structural properties, making it useful as a structural metal due to its light weight, corrosion resistance, and strength. Titanium (Ti) is well known for its strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Tin (Sn) can be extracted from its common ore, cassiterite, through reduction processes. However, none of these details are relevant to identifying the element by the flame test color described.

User Ravendra Kumar
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