Metals and Non-metals

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A non-metal which is essential for living being during breathing is .

A. nitrogen B. hydrogen
C. carbon D. oxygen

Ans. D. oxygen

2. Metallic oxides are in nature.

A. acidic B. neutral
C. basic D. none of the above

Ans. C. basic

3. What happens when magnesium and oxygen react?

A. magnesium hydroxide is formed
B. magnesium oxide is formed with the liberation of energy
C. magnesium does not react with oxygen
D. magnesium oxide is formed along with hydrogen gas

Ans. B. magnesium oxide is formed with the liberation of energy

4. Which one of the metal is highly reactive when exposed to oxygen and water?
A. iron B. copper
C. gold D. sodium

Ans. D. sodium

5. Which one of the following is NOT a metal?

A. sulphur B. mercury
C. sodium D. calcium

Ans. A. sulphur

6. Which one of the following statements is false about metals?

A. Metals are sonorous in nature.
B. Metals are bad conductor of heat and electricity.
C. Metals are hard and lustrous in appearance.
D. Metals show the property of malleability.

Ans. B. Metals are bad conductor of heat and electricity.

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7. How many naturally occurring elements are there?
A. 81 C. 69
C. 94 D. 42

Ans. C. 94

Very Short Answer Questions

1. Name the metal which is used for decorating sweets.

Ans. Silver

2. A metal which is soft and can be cut with a knife is .

Ans. Sodium / Potassium

3. Which is the only metal found in the liquid state at room temperature?
Ans. Mercury

4. An example of non-
metal. Ans. Carbon /
oxygen

5. Name the non-metal which is very reactive when exposed to air.

Ans. Phosphorous

6. The ash obtained on burning magnesium ribbon is dissolved in water is

in nature.
Ans. Basic

Short Answer Questions

1. Classify the following into malleable and non-malleable substances.

aluminium, oxygen, gold, sulphur, potassium, carbon
Ans. Malleable – aluminium, gold, potassium
Non-Malleable – oxygen, sulphur, carbon

2. When a zinc sulphate and copper turning are dissolved in water, reaction does not
take place. Why?
Ans. In the above condition, reaction does not take place because more reactive metal
cannot replace a less reactive metal. Here, zinc is more reactive metal than copper
hence being a less reactive metal, copper cannot displace zinc from zinc sulphate.

3. Complete the following reactions.

a.2Cu + H 2 O + CO2 + O2 
b. SO3 + H 2 O 
Ans. a. 2Cu + H2O + CO2 + O2  Cu(OH)2 + CuCO3
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 b. SO3 + H2O  H2SO4

4. Define the following.

a. Malleability
b.Ductility
Ans. a. The property of metals by which they can be beaten into thin sheets is called
malleability.
b. The property of metal by which it can be drawn into wires is called ductility.

5. With an activity show that metals are sonorous.

Ans. Take two boxes which are similar in appearance, one made of wood and other of
any metal. Strike both the boxes. The box which produces ringing sound is a metal and
another one which does not produce ringing sound is non-metal. Since metals produce
ringing sounds, they are said to be sonorous.

6. Rajesh has four materials – wooden cork, copper coin, iron nail, ball pen in front
of him. He wants to know the materials which show the property of ductility. Help
him to find out the materials.
Ans. Only metals show the property of ductility. He has to find out the materials which
makes a ringing sound by striking them or dropping on the floor. Metals are sonorous in
nature, it is easy to identify them. Here, a copper coin and iron nail produce ringing
sound whereas others do not produce ringing sound.

7. Choose the odd one out and give reason for the same.
sodium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium
Ans. Phosphorous. Except phosphorous, all are metals.

8. A greenish deposit is found on copper substance if it is exposed to moist air for

a long time. Why?
Ans. This is because when a copper substance is exposed to moist air, copper reacts to
water, carbon dioxide and oxygen and forms hydroxide and carbonate of copper. The
green coat is a mixture of copper hydroxide and copper carbonate.
2Cu + H2O + CO2 + O2 → Cu(OH)2 + CuCO3

9. Why is sodium always stored in kerosene?

Ans. Sodium metal is very reactive. It reacts vigorously with oxygen and water. A lot
of heat is generated in the reaction. It is, therefore, stored in kerosene.

10. Write the chemical reaction for the following.

‘When a zinc granule is added to copper sulphate, zinc replace copper from
copper sulphate. This results in disappearing of the blue colour of copper sulphate
and a powdery red mass of copper are formed.’
Ans. Copper Sulphate (CuSO4) + Zinc (Zn)  Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO4) + Copper (Cu)
(Blue) (Colourless) (Red)

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11. Arrange the following metals in the sequence of more reactive to less reactive.
Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Copper
Ans. Magnesium  Zinc  Iron  Copper
More reactive Less reactive

Long Answer Questions

1. List the uses non-metals.

Ans. Non-metals are
a. Essential for our life which all living beings inhale during breathing.
b. Used in fertilisers to enhance the growth of plants.
c. Used in water purification process.
d. Used in the purple coloured solution which is applied on wounds as an antiseptic.
e. Used in crackers.

2. Write any five difference between - metals and non-metals.

Metals
They are lustrous in appearance.
They are sonorous, i.e. they produce a
typical metallic sound when hit with
something.
They are good conductors of heat and
electricity.
They are malleable and ductile in
nature.
Iron, copper, aluminium etc. are
examples of metals.
Non-Metals
They are not lustrous in appearance.
They are not sonorous.
Non-metals are bad conductors of heat
and electricity.
They are not malleable and ductile in
nature.
Coal, pencil, sulphur etc. are examples
of non-metals.

3. Explain the reaction of metals and non-metals with acids and bases.
Ans. Reaction with acids:
Non-metals generally do not react with acids but metals react with acids and produce
hydrogen gas that burns with a ‘pop’ sound.
For example:
When a metal like iron reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid it forms iron chloride and
hydrogen gas.
When a non-metal like sulphur react with dilute hydrochloric acid, no reaction takes
place.
Reaction with bases:
Metal reacts with bases to produce hydrogen gas whereas reaction of non-metals with
bases are complex.
For example:
When aluminium reacts with sodium hydroxide it forms sodium aluminate and
hydrogen gas.

4. Write the physical properties of metals.

Ans. Metals are

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a. hard and lustrous in appearance
b. good conductors of heat and electricity
c. malleable
d. ductile
e. sonorous in nature

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