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EleE05 Cola can metals in the flame: Different conductivities for heat

* Left: Hold a strip of an iron ("FE") Cola can in your left hand and a second one made of aluminium in your left one.
* Bring both metal pieces into the upper part of your burner: Which one can you hold longer?
* Observation 2. photo: The right strip (Al) is the first one to be dropped due to its heat.
* Go on on heating the two strips while you hold them with a wooden clothes peg.
* Observation right photo: Only the aluminiuim strip melts. A drop of liquid metal collects in a pouch of solid.
Explanation: The conductivity for heat is a property of metals like their electric conductivity. Aluminium has a better heat conductivity than iron.
The melting point of aluminium (660°C) is reached at the temperaure of the spirit burner. Al and Fe do not only react with oxygen during rusting but also during heating.
The oxide of aluminium forms a solid coherent layer which protects the molten aluminium against air and holds it together.  (Fe) and aluminium (Al) are the most important heavy metals and light metals.