Destruction of Salt Crystals

Problem If one hammers on a sample of metal (lead or copper), the metal can be flattered to lead or copper leaf metals with the cubic closed structure are very ductile (see E5.4). If, on the other hand, one hammers on a rock salt sample, the crystal splits into tiny pieces or breaks apart, forming crystal plates. These properties can be explained through the structure the layers of ions in a crystal are moved when force is used similarly charged ions stand at opposite sides and are responsible for the repulsive effect of the crystal layers (see Fig. 5.14). 

Material Hammer, tile as a trivet, knife copper or lead sample, rock salt sample. 

Procedure Hit metal samples as well as salt crystal samples with a hammer. Treat the salt crystal with a knife too place the knife vertically on a piece of rock salt and then hit the knife. 

Observation Metal samples are shaped in different forms based on the direction and force of the blow. Salt crystals break into cubic shapes when hammered, by the knife thin layers of crystal may break off parallel to the cube. 

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