Class 10 › Science Metals and Non-metals Class 10 Science · Chapter 3
Practice all → Summary Questions & answers Practise this chapter → View all Metals and non-metals differ in both physical and chemical properties. Metals are typically lustrous, malleable, ductile, sonorous and good conductors of heat and electricity, whereas non-metals are generally dull, brittle and poor conductors. Chemically, metals tend to lose electrons to form positive ions, while non-metals gain electrons to form negative ions; this electron transfer creates ionic compounds with high melting points. The reactivity series ranks metals by how vigorously they react, which explains displacement reactions and helps choose extraction methods. Metals are obtained from ores by steps such as roasting or calcination followed by reduction, and then refined. The chapter also covers corrosion — the slow eating away of metals like the rusting of iron — and how alloying improves properties such as strength and resistance to corrosion.
Reactivity series
Metals arranged in order of decreasing reactivity.
Ionic compound
A compound formed by transfer of electrons between metal and non-metal.
Corrosion
Gradual degradation of a metal by reaction with its surroundings.
Alloy
A homogeneous mixture of a metal with other metals or non-metals.
Q1 Why is sodium stored under kerosene? Answer Q2 Why are ionic compounds usually solids with high melting points? Answer Q3 List the main physical properties of metals. Answer Q4 How do metals and non-metals differ chemically? Answer Q5 What is the reactivity series, and why is it useful? Answer Q6 How are ionic compounds formed, and what are their properties? Answer Q7 What are minerals, ores and gangue? Answer Q8 How are metals of medium reactivity extracted from their ores? Answer Q9 Why are some metals like sodium and aluminium extracted by electrolysis? Answer Q10 What is an alloy, and why are alloys made? Answer Q1 1. Give an example of a metal which
(i) is a liquid at room temperature. Answer Q2 1. Give an example of a metal which
(ii) can be easily cut with a knife. Answer Q3 1. Give an example of a metal which
(iii) is the best conductor of heat. Answer Q4 1. Give an example of a metal which
(iv) is a poor conductor of heat. Answer Q5 2. Explain the meanings of malleable and ductile. Answer Q1 1. Why is sodium kept immersed in kerosene oil? Answer Q2 2. Write equations for the reactions of
(i) iron with steam Answer Q3 2. Write equations for the reactions of
(ii) calcium and potassium with water Answer Q4 3. Samples of four metals A, B, C and D were taken and added to the following solution one by one. The results obtained have been tabulated as follows.
Metal | Iron(II) sulphate | Copper(II) sulphate | Zinc sulphate | Silver nitrate
A | No reaction | Displacement | |
B | Displacement | | No reaction |
C | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | Displacement
D | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction
Use the Table above to answer the following questions about metals A, B, C and D.
(i) Which is the most reactive metal? Answer Q5 3. Samples of four metals A, B, C and D were taken and added to the following solution one by one. The results obtained have been tabulated as follows.
Metal | Iron(II) sulphate | Copper(II) sulphate | Zinc sulphate | Silver nitrate
A | No reaction | Displacement | |
B | Displacement | | No reaction |
C | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | Displacement
D | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction
Use the Table above to answer the following questions about metals A, B, C and D.
(ii) What would you observe if B is added to a solution of Copper(II) sulphate? Answer Q6 3. Samples of four metals A, B, C and D were taken and added to the following solution one by one. The results obtained have been tabulated as follows.
Metal | Iron(II) sulphate | Copper(II) sulphate | Zinc sulphate | Silver nitrate
A | No reaction | Displacement | |
B | Displacement | | No reaction |
C | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | Displacement
D | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction
Use the Table above to answer the following questions about metals A, B, C and D.
(iii) Arrange the metals A, B, C and D in the order of decreasing reactivity. Answer Q7 4. Which gas is produced when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to a reactive metal? Write the chemical reaction when iron reacts with dilute \(H_2SO_4\). Answer Q8 5. What would you observe when zinc is added to a solution of iron(II) sulphate? Write the chemical reaction that takes place. Answer Q1 1. (i) Write the electron-dot structures for sodium, oxygen and magnesium. Answer Q2 1. (ii) Show the formation of \(Na_2O\) and \(MgO\) by the transfer of electrons. Answer Q3 1. (iii) What are the ions present in these compounds? Answer Q4 2. Why do ionic compounds have high melting points? Answer Q1 1. Define the following terms.
(i) Mineral Answer Q2 1. Define the following terms.
(ii) Ore Answer Q3 1. Define the following terms.
(iii) Gangue Answer Q4 2. Name two metals which are found in nature in the free state. Answer Q5 3. What chemical process is used for obtaining a metal from its oxide? Answer Q1 1. Metallic oxides of zinc, magnesium and copper were heated with the following metals.
Metal | Zinc | Magnesium | Copper
Zinc oxide | | |
Magnesium oxide | | |
Copper oxide | | |
In which cases will you find displacement reactions taking place? Answer Q2 2. Which metals do not corrode easily? Answer Q3 3. What are alloys? Answer Q1 1. Which of the following pairs will give displacement reactions?
(a) NaCl solution and copper metal
(b) \(MgCl_2\) solution and aluminium metal
(c) \(FeSO_4\) solution and silver metal
(d) \(AgNO_3\) solution and copper metal. Answer Q2 2. Which of the following methods is suitable for preventing an iron frying pan from rusting?
(a) Applying grease
(b) Applying paint
(c) Applying a coating of zinc
(d) All of the above. Answer Q3 3. An element reacts with oxygen to give a compound with a high melting point. This compound is also soluble in water. The element is likely to be
(a) calcium
(b) carbon
(c) silicon
(d) iron. Answer Q4 4. Food cans are coated with tin and not with zinc because
(a) zinc is costlier than tin.
(b) zinc has a higher melting point than tin.
(c) zinc is more reactive than tin.
(d) zinc is less reactive than tin. Answer Q5 5. You are given a hammer, a battery, a bulb, wires and a switch.
(a) How could you use them to distinguish between samples of metals and non-metals? Answer Q6 5. You are given a hammer, a battery, a bulb, wires and a switch.
(b) Assess the usefulness of these tests in distinguishing between metals and non-metals. Answer Q7 6. What are amphoteric oxides? Give two examples of amphoteric oxides. Answer Q8 7. Name two metals which will displace hydrogen from dilute acids, and two metals which will not. Answer Q9 8. In the electrolytic refining of a metal M, what would you take as the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte? Answer Q10 9. Pratyush took sulphur powder on a spatula and heated it. He collected the gas evolved by inverting a test tube over it, as shown in figure below.
(a) What will be the action of gas on
(i) dry litmus paper? Answer Q11 9. Pratyush took sulphur powder on a spatula and heated it. He collected the gas evolved by inverting a test tube over it, as shown in figure below.
(a) What will be the action of gas on
(ii) moist litmus paper? Answer Q12 9. Pratyush took sulphur powder on a spatula and heated it. He collected the gas evolved by inverting a test tube over it, as shown in figure below.
(b) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction taking place. Answer Q13 10. State two ways to prevent the rusting of iron. Answer Q14 11. What type of oxides are formed when non-metals combine with oxygen? Answer Q15 12. Give reasons
(a) Platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery. Answer Q16 12. Give reasons
(b) Sodium, potassium and lithium are stored under oil. Answer Q17 12. Give reasons
(c) Aluminium is a highly reactive metal, yet it is used to make utensils for cooking. Answer Q18 12. Give reasons
(d) Carbonate and sulphide ores are usually converted into oxides during the process of extraction. Answer Q19 13. You must have seen tarnished copper vessels being cleaned with lemon or tamarind juice. Explain why these sour substances are effective in cleaning the vessels. Answer Q20 14. Differentiate between metal and non-metal on the basis of their chemical properties. Answer Q21 15. A man went door to door posing as a goldsmith. He promised to bring back the glitter of old and dull gold ornaments. An unsuspecting lady gave a set of gold bangles to him which he dipped in a particular solution. The bangles sparkled like new but their weight was reduced drastically. The lady was upset but after a futile argument the man beat a hasty retreat. Can you play the detective to find out the nature of the solution he had used? Answer Q22 16. Give reasons why copper is used to make hot water tanks and not steel (an alloy of iron). Answer
Metals are generally:
A brittle and dull B good conductors of heat and electricity C gaseous at room temperature D poor conductors of electricity
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