Class X Science – Chapter 3 | Metals and Non-metals

 

Class X Science – Chapter 3

Metals and Non-metals (NCERT Solutions – Short & Clear)

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1. What are metals? Write two physical properties.

Answer:
Metals are elements that usually lose electrons and form positive ions.

Two physical properties:

• Metals are malleable (can be beaten into sheets).
• Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity.

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2. What are non-metals? Write two physical properties.

Answer:
Non-metals are elements that usually gain electrons and form negative ions.

Two physical properties:

• Non-metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
• Non-metals are not malleable and are usually brittle.

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3. Why are metals called electropositive elements?

Answer:
Because metals lose electrons easily and form positive ions.

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4. Write the difference between metals and non-metals.

Answer:

Metals	Non-metals
Lose electrons	Gain electrons
Good conductors	Poor conductors
Malleable and ductile	Brittle
Form basic oxides	Form acidic or neutral oxides

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5. What is an ore?

Answer:
An ore is a mineral from which a metal can be extracted economically.

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6. What is mineral?

Answer:
A mineral is a naturally occurring substance in which metals or their compounds are found.

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7. What is corrosion?

Answer:
Corrosion is the slow destruction of a metal by chemical reaction with air, moisture or other substances.

Example: rusting of iron.

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8. How can corrosion be prevented?

(Any two methods)

Answer:

• By painting or coating the metal surface
• By galvanisation
• By alloying

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9. What is galvanisation?

Answer:
Galvanisation is the process of coating iron with a layer of zinc to prevent rusting.

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10. What is an alloy?

Answer:
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or a metal and a non-metal.

Example: brass (copper + zinc).

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11. Why should sodium be stored in kerosene?

Answer:
Because sodium reacts violently with air and moisture and may catch fire.

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12. Write the uses of metals in daily life.

(Any three)

Answer:

• Making electrical wires (copper, aluminium)
• Making utensils
• Making machines and vehicles

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13. What is the reactivity series?

Answer:
The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged in decreasing order of their reactivity.

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14. Why is extraction of metals at the top of the reactivity series difficult?

Answer:
Because these metals are very reactive and cannot be reduced easily by carbon.

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15. What happens when iron reacts with copper sulphate solution?

Answer:
Iron displaces copper from copper sulphate.

Equation:

Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu

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Class X Science – Chapter 3

50 MCQ Quiz: Metals and Non-metals

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✅ MCQs

1. Which of the following is a physical property of metals?
A. Brittle
B. Poor conductor
C. Malleable
D. Soft
Ans: C

2. Which metal is liquid at room temperature?
A. Sodium
B. Mercury
C. Aluminium
D. Iron
Ans: B

3. Which of the following is a non-metal?
A. Zinc
B. Copper
C. Sulphur
D. Aluminium
Ans: C

4. Which metal is the best conductor of electricity?
A. Iron
B. Aluminium
C. Copper
D. Lead
Ans: C

5. Metals generally form which type of ions?
A. Negative ions
B. Positive ions
C. Neutral ions
D. Both
Ans: B

6. Which of the following is NOT malleable?
A. Gold
B. Silver
C. Iron
D. Sulphur
Ans: D

7. Rusting is an example of
A. Reduction
B. Displacement
C. Corrosion
D. Neutralisation
Ans: C

8. The green coating on copper is
A. Copper oxide
B. Copper sulphate
C. Basic copper carbonate
D. Copper nitrate
Ans: C

9. Which gas is evolved when a metal reacts with an acid?
A. Oxygen
B. Nitrogen
C. Hydrogen
D. Carbon dioxide
Ans: C

10. Which of the following metals reacts vigorously with water?
A. Copper
B. Sodium
C. Iron
D. Silver
Ans: B

11. Which metal is stored in kerosene?
A. Zinc
B. Iron
C. Sodium
D. Copper
Ans: C

12. Which one is an ore of aluminium?
A. Hematite
B. Bauxite
C. Galena
D. Cinnabar
Ans: B

13. Galena is the ore of
A. Zinc
B. Copper
C. Lead
D. Iron
Ans: C

14. Which process is used to prevent rusting of iron?
A. Roasting
B. Smelting
C. Galvanisation
D. Calcination
Ans: C

15. Which of the following is an alloy?
A. Iron
B. Copper
C. Brass
D. Aluminium
Ans: C

16. Brass is an alloy of
A. Copper and tin
B. Copper and zinc
C. Iron and carbon
D. Aluminium and copper
Ans: B

17. Steel is mainly an alloy of
A. Iron and copper
B. Iron and zinc
C. Iron and carbon
D. Iron and aluminium
Ans: C

18. Which non-metal is a good conductor of electricity?
A. Sulphur
B. Phosphorus
C. Graphite
D. Iodine
Ans: C

19. Which of the following is the hardest metal?
A. Sodium
B. Iron
C. Gold
D. Mercury
Ans: B

20. Which metal is used for making electric wires?
A. Lead
B. Copper
C. Tin
D. Zinc
Ans: B

21. Which metal does not react with water at all?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Iron
D. Copper
Ans: D

22. The reactivity series is a list of metals in order of
A. Atomic mass
B. Density
C. Reactivity
D. Hardness
Ans: C

23. Which metal is the most reactive among the following?
A. Iron
B. Copper
C. Zinc
D. Sodium
Ans: D

24. Which metal is extracted by electrolytic reduction?
A. Iron
B. Aluminium
C. Copper
D. Zinc
Ans: B

25. Which of the following is a basic oxide?
A. CO₂
B. SO₂
C. MgO
D. NO₂
Ans: C

26. Non-metal oxides are generally
A. Basic
B. Neutral
C. Acidic
D. Amphoteric
Ans: C

27. Which metal is used for galvanisation?
A. Copper
B. Aluminium
C. Zinc
D. Tin
Ans: C

28. Which of the following metals is the least reactive?
A. Sodium
B. Magnesium
C. Zinc
D. Gold
Ans: D

29. Which metal is used in making aircraft bodies?
A. Iron
B. Aluminium
C. Copper
D. Lead
Ans: B

30. Which non-metal is essential for combustion?
A. Nitrogen
B. Hydrogen
C. Oxygen
D. Chlorine
Ans: C

31. Which metal displaces copper from copper sulphate solution?
A. Silver
B. Gold
C. Iron
D. Mercury
Ans: C

32. Which of the following is a property of non-metals?
A. Sonorous
B. Ductile
C. Malleable
D. Poor conductor
Ans: D

33. Which metal is used for making food containers?
A. Lead
B. Aluminium
C. Mercury
D. Zinc
Ans: B

34. Which metal is used in thermometers?
A. Copper
B. Aluminium
C. Mercury
D. Silver
Ans: C

35. Which of the following is NOT a method of preventing corrosion?
A. Painting
B. Alloying
C. Galvanisation
D. Roasting
Ans: D

36. Which process is used to remove moisture and volatile impurities from an ore?
A. Smelting
B. Calcination
C. Electrolysis
D. Refining
Ans: B

37. Which metal is used to make jewellery?
A. Iron
B. Zinc
C. Gold
D. Sodium
Ans: C

38. Which non-metal is used in water purification?
A. Sulphur
B. Phosphorus
C. Chlorine
D. Nitrogen
Ans: C

39. Which metal is attracted by a magnet?
A. Aluminium
B. Iron
C. Copper
D. Silver
Ans: B

40. Which of the following is an example of displacement reaction?
A. Burning of magnesium
B. Rusting of iron
C. Iron + copper sulphate
D. Electrolysis of water
Ans: C

41. Which metal is used in making coins?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Copper
D. Calcium
Ans: C

42. Which metal forms amphoteric oxide?
A. Iron
B. Zinc
C. Sodium
D. Copper
Ans: B

43. Which oxide is acidic in nature?
A. CaO
B. MgO
C. CO₂
D. Na₂O
Ans: C

44. Which metal is found in free state in nature?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Gold
D. Aluminium
Ans: C

45. Which metal is used for coating food cans?
A. Zinc
B. Tin
C. Iron
D. Aluminium
Ans: B

46. Which non-metal is used in matchsticks?
A. Carbon
B. Sulphur
C. Phosphorus
D. Chlorine
Ans: C

47. Which metal is light and strong, suitable for making vehicle parts?
A. Iron
B. Aluminium
C. Lead
D. Tin
Ans: B

48. Which of the following is not an alloy?
A. Brass
B. Steel
C. Bronze
D. Bauxite
Ans: D

49. Which metal reacts with steam to form oxide and hydrogen?
A. Copper
B. Iron
C. Silver
D. Gold
Ans: B

50. Which property allows metals to be drawn into wires?
A. Malleability
B. Hardness
C. Ductility
D. Sonority
Ans: C

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