I see an economic diasater coming...

[WilbyInebriated]

my chemistry is a bit rusty (ha ha) but if i recall correctly, iron oxide is an ionic compound? and thus not a great conductor, more of a resistor. you should try it out triffid, let us know if it works. all the sand around here is under a couple feet of snow.

[triffid]

The beach sand would make for an interesting experiment.There is magnetic and nonmagnetic black sand.Both are known to be forms of iron.triffid

[triffid]

Iron oxide is not an ionic compound.It can be resistive however.So it could heat up like a resistor in a circuit. table salt(sodium chloride) however is ionic and when mixed with water carries a current quite well.triffid

[triffid]

Joe meyer was on coasttocoast am last night and this is what he had to say about the current economic situation.   
The so-called economic recovery is an illusion, and the underlying elements of the financial structure are continuing to deteriorate, with more mortgage foreclosures coming in 2011-12, he said. We'll continue to see declining prices in housing, and the commercial real estate sector will also slide downward, with retail malls failing in the 2011-12 period, he predicted.
The bull market for precious metals is just getting started, and though there'll be some corrections, it will continue rising for the next decade, he declared. He recommended investing in gold and silver coins, as well as bullion, and quality mining stocks. Meyer also advised making investments with utility companies, and the energy market (diversifying with 1/3 international oil companies, 1/3 oil service stocks, and 1/3 in the natural gas sector).

[WilbyInebriated]

Iron oxide is not an ionic compound.It can be resistive however.So it could heat up like a resistor in a circuit. table salt(sodium chloride) however is ionic and when mixed with water carries a current quite well.triffid

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_iron_oxide_a_ionic_or_covalent_compound