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METALS AND NON-METALS

Multiple choice questions: (MCQ) 10th CBSE
1. Which of the following property is generally not shown by metals?
(a) Electrical conduction (b) Sonorous in nature (c) Dullness (d) Ductility
Answer: (c) Dullness

2. The ability of metals to be drawn into thin wire is known as

(a) Ductility (b) Malleability (c) Sonority (d) Conductivity
Answer: (a) Ductility

4. Which one of the following metals does not react with cold as well as hot water?
(a) Na (b) Ca (c) Mg (d) Fe
Answer: (d) Fe

5. Which of the following oxide(s) of iron would be obtained on prolonged reaction of

iron with steam?
(a) FeO (b)Fe2O3 (c) Fe3O4 (d) Fe2O3 and Fe3O4
Answer: (c) Fe3O4

6. Generally metals react with acids to give salt and hydrogen gas. Which of the
following acids does not give hydrogen gas on reacting with metals (except Mn and
Mg)? (a) H2SO4 (b) HCl (c) HNO3 (d) All of these
Answer: (c) HNO3

7. The composition of aqua-regia is

(a) Dil.HCl : Conc. HNO3 − 3 : 1 (b) Conc.HCl : Dil. HNO3 − 3 : 1
(c) Conc.HCl : Conc.HNO3 − 3 : 1 (d) Dil.HCl : Dil.HNO3 − 3 : 1
Answer: (c) Conc. HCl : Conc. HNO3 − 3 : 1

8. Which of the following are not ionic compounds?

(i) KCl (ii) HCl (iii) CCl4 (iv) NaCl
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii) (c) (iii) and (iv) (d) (i) and (iii)
Answer: (b) (ii) and (iii)

9. Galvanisation is a method of protecting iron from rusting by coating with a thin layer
of (a) Gallium (b) Aluminium (c) Zinc (d) Silver
Answer: (c) Zinc

10. Generally, non-metals are not lustrous. Which of the following nonmetal is
lustrous? (a) Sulphur (b) Oxygen (c) Nitrogen (d) Iodine
Answer: (d) Iodine

11.Stainless steel is very useful material for our life. In stainless steel, iron is mixed
with (a) Ni and Cr (b) Cu and Cr (c) Ni and Cu (d) Cu and Au
Answer: (a) Ni and Cr

12. Which of the following metals exist in their native state in nature?
(i) Cu (ii) Au (iii) Zn (iv) Ag
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii) (c) (ii) and (iv) (d) (iii) and (iv)
Answer: (c) (ii) and (iv)
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13. Which one of the following properties is not generally exhibited by ionic
compounds?
(a) Solubility in water (b) Electrical conductivity in solid state
(c) High melting and boiling points (d) Electrical conductivity in molten state
Answer: (b) Electrical conductivity in solid state

14. Metals are refined by using different methods. Which of the following metals are
refined by electrolytic refining?
(i) Au (ii) Cu (iii) Na (iv) K
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (i) and (iii) (c) (ii) and (iii) (d) (iii) and (iv)
Answer: (d) (iii) and (iv)

15. Silver articles become black on prolonged exposure to air. This is due to the
formation of
(a) Ag3N (b) Ag2O (c) Ag2S (d) Ag2S and Ag3N
Answer: (c) Ag2S

16. If copper is kept in open air, it slowly loses its shining brown surface and gains a
green coating. It is due to the formation of
(a) CuSO4 (b) CuCO3 (c) Cu(NO3)2 (d) CuO
Answer: (b) CuCO3

17. Generally, metals are solid in nature. Which one of the following metals is found in
liquid state at room temperature?
(a) Na (b) Fe (c) Cr (d) Hg
Answer: (d) Hg

18. Which of the following metals are obtained by electrolysis of their chlorides in
molten state?
(i) Na (ii) Ca (iii) Fe (iv) Cu
(a) (i) and (iv) (b) (iii) and (iv) (c) (i) and (iii) (d) (i) and (ii)
Answer: (d) (i) and (ii)

19. Which one of the following four metals would be displaced from the solution of its
salts by other three metals?
(a) Mg (b) Ag (c) Zn (d) Cu
Answer: (b) Ag

20. An alloy is
(a) an element (b) a compound
(c) a homogeneous mixture (d) a heterogeneous mixture
Answer: (c) A homogeneous mixture

21. Alloys are homogeneous mixtures of a metal with a metal or nonmetal. Which
among the following alloys contain non-metal as one of its constituents?
(a) Brass (b) Bronze (c) Amalgam (d) Steel
Answer: (d) Steel

22. Which among the following alloys contain mercury as one of its constituents?
(a) Stainless steel (b) Alnico (c) Solder (d) Zinc amalgam
Answer: (d) Zinc amalgam
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22. An element A is soft and can be cut with a knife. This is very reactive to air and
cannot be kept open in air. It reacts vigorously with water. Identify the element from the
following
(a) Mg (b) Na (c) P (d) Ca
Answer: (b) Na

23. An electrolytic cell consists of

(i) positively charged cathode (ii) negatively charged anode
(iii) positively charged anode (iv)negatively charged cathode
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (iii) and (iv) (c) (i) and (iii) (d) (ii) ad (iv)
Answer: (b) (iii) and (iv)

24. During electrolytic refining of zinc, it gets

(a) deposited on cathode (b) deposited on anode
(c) deposited on cathode as well as anode (d) remains in the solution
Answer: (a) Deposited on cathode

25. Which among the following statements is incorrect for magnesium metal?
(a) It burns in oxygen with a dazzling white flame
(b) It reacts with cold water to form magnesium oxide and evolves hydrogen gas
(c) It reacts with hot water to form magnesium hydroxide and evolves hydrogen gas
(d) It reacts with steam to form magnesium hydroxide and evolves hydrogen gas
Answer: (b) It reacts with cold water to form magnesium oxide and evolves
hydrogen gas

26. The property of metals by which they can be beaten in to thin sheets is called-
(a) malleability (b) Ductility (c) conduction (d) Expansion
Answer: (a) malleability

27. Which one of the following is non-metal?

(a) Zn (b) Al (c) Fe (d) N
Answer: (d) N

28. The property of metal by which it can be drawn into wires is called
(a) Conductivity (b) malleability (c) Ductility (d) Decorating
Answer: (c) Ductility

29. What is the product when sulphur reacts with oxygen?

(a) Sulphuric acid (b) Sulphur trioxide (c) Sulphurous acid (d) Sulphur dioxide
Answer: (d) Sulphur dioxide

30. When sulphur dioxide is dissolve in water then-

(a) Sulphur is formed (b) Sulphur trioxide is formed
(c) Sulphuric acid is formed (d) Sulphurous acid is formed.
Answer: (d) Sulphurous acid is formed

31. What is the chemical formula of sulphurous acid-

(a) H2SO4 (b) SO2 (c) SO3 (d) H2SO3
Answer: (d) H2SO3
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32. Sodium metal is stored in-

(a) Water (b) Alcohol (c) Kerosene (d) Ether
Answer: (c) Kerosene

33. Which non-metal catches fire if the exposed to air

(a) Sodium (b) Phosphorous (c) Calcium (d) Uranium
Answer: (b) Phosphorous

34. An alloy of Zn and Cu is dissolved in dil. HCl, Hydrogen gas is evolved. In this
(a) only zinc reacts with dil. HC1 (b) only copper reacts with dil. HC1
(c) both zinc and copper react with dil. HC1 (d) only copper reacts with water
Answer: (a) only zinc reacts with dil. HCl

35. Rusting of iron takes place in

(a) ordinary water (b) distilled water (c) both ordinary and distilled water (d) none of the above
Answer: (c) both ordinary and distilled water

36. During smelting, an additional substance is added which combines with impurities to
form a fusible product known as
(a) slag (b) mud (c) gangue (d) flux
Answer: (a) slag

37. An aluminium strip is kept immersed in freshly prepared ferrous sulphate solution
taken in a test tube, the change observed is that
(a) Green solution slowly turns brown
(b) Lower end of test tube become slightly warm
(c) A colourless gas with the smell of burning sulphur is observed
(d) Light green solution changes to blue.
Answer: (a) Green solution slowly turns brown

38. Copper sulphate solution can be easily kept in a container made of

(a)Lead (b) Zinc (c) Silver (d) Aluminum
Answer: (c) Silver

39. Which of the following is incorrect?

(a)Zinc Oxide is called as amphoteric oxide (b) Silicon counts among metalloids
(c) Sodium is kept open in air (d) Metals conduct electricity
Answer: (c) Sodium is kept open in air

40. Which is correct order as per the reactivity of the metals

(a) Zn > Fe > Cu > Ag (b) Fe > Zn > Cu > Ag (c) Cu > Zn > Fe > Ag (d) Zn > Cu > Fe > Ag
Answer: (a) Zn > Fe > Cu > Ag

41. Which of the following oxide(s) of iron would be obtained on prolonged reaction of
iron with steam?
(a) FeO (b) Fe2O3 (c) Fe3O4 (d) Fe2O3 and Fe3O
Answer: (c) Fe3O4

42. Which of the following is the best electrical conductor?

(a) Gold (b) Silver (c) Copper (d) Aluminium
Answer: (b) Silver
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43. Which of the following is NOT True for metals?

(a) Generally metals are malleable.
(b) Metals are good conductors of heat.
(c) Metals are electronegative by nature.
(d) Metals displace hydrogen gas from dilute acids.
Answer: (c) Metals are electronegative by nature.

44. In general the number of electrons in the outermost shell of a metal atom is
(a) 1 (b) 1 to 3 (c) 5 to 8 (d) 8
Answer: (b) 1 to 3

45. Bauxite is an ore of which metal

(a) iron (b) aluminium (c) copper (d) tin
Answer: (b) aluminium

46. Which of the following pairs will give displacement reactions?

(a) NaCl solution and copper metal (b) MgCl2 solution and aluminium metal
(c) FeSO4 solution and silver metal (d) AgNO3 solution and copper metal.
Answer: (d) AgNO3 solution and copper metal.

47. 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: (c) Applying a coating of zinc

48. 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: (a) calcium

49. 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: (c) zinc is more reactive than tin.

50. Haematite is an ore of

(a) iron (b) aluminium (c) copper (d) tin
Answer: (a) iron

51. What are the constituents of alloy solder?

(a)  Copper, zinc (b)  Copper, tin (c)  Lead, Zinc (d)  Lead, tin
Answer: (d)  Lead, tin

52. Which of the is more reactive?

(a) Hg (b) Al (c) Ag (d) Ca
Answer: (d) Ca

53. By which reaction metal is obtained from metal oxide?

(a) Liquefaction (b) Reduction (c) Calcination (d) Roasting
Answer: (b) Reduction
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54. Which non-metallic element is in liquid form?

(a) Carbon (b) Hydrogen (c) Bromine (d) Phosphorus
Answer: (c) Bromine

55. Which of the following non-metal is good conductor of electricity?

(a) Graphite (b) Phosphorus (c) Hydrogen (d) Bromine
Answer: (a) Graphite

56. Which of the following is not a half-metal?

(a) Silicon (b) boron (c) arsenic (d) chlorine
Answer: (d) chlorine

Fill in the following blanks with suitable words:

1. Sodium is a metal which can be cut with a knife.
2. Silver is a metal is the best conductor of electricity.
3. Iron is a metal is poorest conductor of electricity.
4. Gold is a metal is most ductile.
5. Silver and copper metals are best conductor of heat.
6. Gallium is the metal other than mercury is liquid at room temperature.
7. Lead and mercury metals are poorest conductor of heat.
8. Basic is the nature of oxides of metal.
9. Acidic is the nature of oxides of non- metal.
10. Iodine non-metal is lustrous.
11. Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust.
12. Oxygen is the most abundant non-metal in the earth's crust.
13. Sodium is one metal which is stored in kerosene oil.
14. White phosphorus is one non-metal which is stored under water.
15. Magnesium liberates Hydrogen gas on reacting with hot boiling water.
16. The white powder formed when magnesium ribbon burns in oxygen is of Magnesium oxide.
17. Ordinary aluminium stripes are not attacked by water because of the presence of a layer
of Aluminium oxide on the surface of aluminium.
18. A metal having low melting point is Sodium but a non-metal having very high melting point
is Diamond.
19. Calcium is a Less reactive metal than sodium.
20. The process of depositing a thin layer of zinc on iron articles is called galvanization.
21. Tiffin boxes are electroplated with tin but car bumpers are electroplated with chromium to
protect them from rusting.
22. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
23. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
24. The non-metal present in steel is carbon.
25. The alloy in which one of the metals is mercury is called an amalgam.
26. The electrical conductivity and melting point of an alloy is less than that of pure metals.

1 marks questions (very short answer type question)

1. Which non-metal conduct electricity?

Answer: Graphite, allotrope of carbon conduct electricity.

2. Why metals are hard and have high melting point?

Answer: because of their crystalline structure metals are hard.
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3. What is an amalgam?
Answer: An alloy of two metals in which one is mercury is called amalgam.

4. What are the constituents of solder?

Answer: tin and lead

5. Name the green coloured compound which appears on the surface of copper
utensils? Answer: Basic copper carbonate

6. Why the item made of silver turns black when exposed to air?
Answer: due to formation of silver sulphide

7. Name two metals that react with dil. HNO3 to evolve H2 gas?
Answer: magnesium and manganese

8. Why sodium is kept immersed in kerosene oil?

Answer: because sodium reacts with air to form Na2O (sodium oxide).

9. Name two metals which are found in nature in the free state.
Answer: Silver and Gold.

10. Name the conditions which are essential for corrosion.

Answer: (i) Presence of moisture, (ii) Presence of air.

11. Give examples of metals which are found in liquid form at room temperature.
Answer: Mercury and Gallium

12. Can metals be extracted from all types of minerals?

Answer: No. Some minerals may have high percentage of metals while other do not. 

13. Define metallurgy.

Answer: The process of extracting metals from their ores followed by refining is known as
metallurgy.

14. Give an example of non-metal which is lustrous.

Answer: Iodine

15. Give an example of a non-metal which is hard and has high melting point.
Answer: Diamond (allotrope of Carbon)

16. Name any non-metal which is found in liquid state at room temperature.
Answer: Bromine

17. Name one metal which has a low melting point.

Answer: Cesium.

18. Name the metal which is the poorest conductor of heat.

Answer: Lead.

19. Name a non-metal having a very high melting point.

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Answer: Diamond.
20. Which property of graphite is utilized in making electrodes?
Answer: Since graphite is a good conductor of electricity, it is used in making electrodes.

21. Name two non-metals which are both brittle and non-ductile.
Answer: Sulphur and phosphorus.

22. From amongst the metals sodium, calcium, aluminium, copper and magnesium, name
the metal:
(i)Which reacts with water only on boiling → Aluminium
(ii)Another which does not react even with steam → Copper

23. Name the Ores of following:

(a) Iron is extracted from → Haematite ore. Iron (III) oxide, Fe2O3
(b) Aluminium → Bauxite ore, Aluminium oxide, Al2O3.2H2O
(c) Zinc → Calamine; Zinc carbonate, ZnCO3 and
Zinc blende; Zinc sulphide, ZnS

24. What happens when

a. ZnCO3 is heated in the absence of oxygen?
Answer: When zinc carbonate is heated in the absence of oxygen, zinc oxide and
carbon dioxide are produced.
ZnCO3 ⇨ ZnO + CO2
b. A mixture of Cu2O and Cu2S is heated?
Answer: When a mixture of copper oxide and copper sulphide is heated, pure copper
is obtained. 2Cu2O + Cu2S ⇨ 6Cu + SO2

Important Ores of Metals and Chemical Formula:

Sl No Name of the Element Ores Chemical Formula

1 Aluminium (Al) Bauxite Al2O32H2O
Kryolite Na3AlF6
2 Calcium (Ca) Dolomite MgCO3CaCO3
Lime Stone CaCO3
3 Copper (Cu) Copper Glance Cu2S
Copper Pyrite CuFeS2
4 Iron (Fe) Haematite Fe2O3
Iron Pyrite FeS2
Magnetite Fe3O4
5 Lead (Pb) Galena Pbs
6 Mercury (Hg) Cinnabar HgS
7 Zinc Calamine ZnCo3
Zinc Blende ZnS
8 Manganese (Mn) Pyrolusite MnO2
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