Chemistry - What metal is this?

Solution 1:

I would guess that it is tin. The coloration and cut look right compared to an image of tin turnings (eBay listing for tin metal turnings). I'm more used to seeing aluminum and magnesium as strips rather than turnings.

Beyond that, I think it will probably take more than just the image to positively identify the metal. You could test the material with something akin to part 3 of this experiment (Linus Chem Department .pdf file).

Alternatively, you could also rerun the calorimetry experiment on the metal and see if the specific heat is consistent with any of these.

Solution 2:

It is probably tin judging from its appearance. The other metals are unlikely because:

• zinc, aluminium, magnesium will have an oxide layer (no shine) unless stored without exposure to air.
• antimony is very unlikely for calorimetry.
• although lead is toxic, many schools still continue to use compounds of lead, like lead acetate and lead nitrate, for salt analysis (being a common use). So using lead is not unusual.