Question

If element A floats when placed in element B what can you deduce about the elements?

Answer 1

`"(i) that element A is less dense than element B"`.............and given room temperature and pressure.........

Explanation:

`"(ii) that element B is probably mercury."`

There are not that many elemental liquids; there is mercury, and there is also bromine, `Br_2`. Since bromine is one of the most corrosive substances you can find in a lab, I doubt you would be doing experiments with this noxious substance. You really wouldn't do experiments with mercury either, but it's just possible. Most elements placed in a dish of mercury would float.

Mercury metal has all but disappeared from teaching laboratories. Bromine would be kept under lock and key in a fumehood.