I really couldn't figure out the answer to the following question: Let $X$ be a scheme of finite type over a field $k$ and let $K$ be an extension field of $k$. Let $X\_K := K \times\_k X$ be the base extension and let $p: X\_K \rightarrow X$ be the projection. Is it true that $p$ maps closed points to closed points?


This should be true if $K$ is of finite type over $k$ (so not necessarily finite!). Proof: $X$ is Jacobson, the projection $p$ is of finite type and now it follows for example from the Stacks Project Lemma 27.17.8 (see <http://stacks.math.columbia.edu/tag/01TB>) that $p$ maps closed points to closed points. But I would like to have the same for any $K$. Is this true?



Closed points of field extension of k-scheme under projection
No, it is not ! For instance, if $k=\bar{\mathbb{Q}}$, $K=\mathbb{C}$ and $X$ has dimension $\geq 1$, there is exactly one closed point of $X\_K$ above each closed point of $X$. But there is only countably many closed points of $X$, whereas $X\_K$ has uncountably many closed points.


In general, a point of $X$ will be the image of a closed point of $X\_K$ if and only if its residue field may be embedded in a finite extension of $K$ (in a way that respects $k$).


In particular, your statement is not true in general, even when $K$ is of finite type over $k$ : for instance, if $K$ is the residue field of a generic point of $X$. The problem with your argument is that $K$ is of finite type over $k$ as a field, but not as an algebra.


