Answer to Question #96247 in General Chemistry for Rob Heyland

Question

What metals/alloys could cause ice to sublimate in a very short time?

I have seen a regular ice cube disappear right before my eyes leaving no water in its place, and instead the metal absorbed the cold of the ice at the same time.
I know dry ice sublimates very easily, but what metals/alloys could cause regular ice to do the exact same thing in a very short period of time(less than a min)?

Answer 1

This relates to the difference between how ice, iron spoons and wooden tables stick together.

In wood, most or all of the bonds between the individual atoms and fibre units are covalent; making them very strong. Similarly, a spoon is an alloy of iron, nickel, chrome and carbon, also a very coherent structure.