Class VIII

Science
Exercise Materials-Metals and Non-metals

General Instructions:

(i) Questions 1-10 are very short answer questions. These are required to
be answered in one word or one sentence each.
(ii) Questions 11-20 are short answer questions. Answers to them should
normally not exceed 40 words each.
(iii) Questions 21-30 are long answer questions. Answer to them should
normally not exceed 70 words each.
(iv) Questions 31-40 are HOTS questions.
(v) Questions 41 & 42 are value based questions.
(vi) Answer should be brief and to the point.

Very short answer type (1 mark)

Question 1. What is the property of beating metals into thin sheets called?

Question 2. Write the conducting properties of the following:

Copper, rubber, wood, iron, sulphur

Question 3. Give two physical properties each of metals and non-metals.

Question 4. What is the brown coloured layer usually formed on iron articles
called?

Question 5. What is the nature of oxides formed by metals and non-metals?

Question 6. Where is sodium stored?

Question 7. What causes the ‘pop’ sound when metals react with acids?

Question 8. When zinc granules are added to a copper sulphate solution, we

observe that a layer of copper deposits on the zinc granules. Identify
the reaction that takes place.

Question 9. Which metal is generally used for making electric wires?

Question 10. Give one use of iodine.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 1

 Short answer type (2 & 3 marks)
Question 11. What are the physical properties of metals? Give few examples of
metals.

Question 12. What are the physical properties of non-metals? Give few examples of
non-metals.

Question 13. Give examples of the following:

a. A metal that can be cut through a knife.

b. A metal, which is found in liquid state at room temperature.

Question 14. What happens when a magnesium ribbon is burnt? Write the chemical
reaction taking place.

Question 15. When sulphur is burnt, the aqueous solution of the gas released turns
blue litmus red. Answer the following questions based on the above
observation:

a. Which gas is produced on burning sulphur?

b. What is the nature of the gas released?

c. Which compound is obtained when the released gas is dissolved in

water? Give the chemical reaction.

Question 16. Where is phosphorus stored and why?

Question 17. Give the reactivity of the following elements with water:

a. Sodium
b. Iron
c. Sulphur

Question 18. What happens when:

a. Metals react with sodium hydroxide.
b. Copper is brought in contact with hydrochloric acid.
c. Iron nail is dipped in copper sulphate solution.

Question 19. Give any two uses, each of metals and non-metals.

Question 20. Mention the uses of the following non-metals in our daily life:
a. Oxygen
b. Phosphorus
c. Chlorine

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 2

 Long answer type (5 marks)

Question 21. Tabulate the differences in physical properties between metals and
non-metals.

Question 22. Describe the following terms. Also give appropriate examples in each
case.
a. Malleability
b. Ductility
c. Sonority
d. Lustre
e. Conductivity

Question 23. Give reasons for the following:

a. Copper wires are used to make electric wires.
b. Potassium cannot be used to make foils.
c. Bells in temples are not made of wood.
d. The handles of cooking utensils are made up of wood or plastic.
e. Gold is used in making fine jewellery.

Question 24. Give chemical reactions for the following:

a. Formation of rust
b. Formation of green material on copper when it is exposed to moist
air.
c. Zinc granules dissolved in copper sulphate solution.
d. Copper turnings dissolved in iron sulphate solution.
e. Reaction of iron with hydrochloric acid.

Question 25. What is the nature of rust? Describe an activity to test the nature of
rust.

Question 26. Give reasons for the following:

a. Potassium is stored in kerosene.
b. Copper does not displace iron from iron sulphate solution.
c. A green layer is formed on copper articles over a period of time.
d. A ‘pop’ sound is produced when metals react with sodium
hydroxide.

Question 27. Describe the chemical properties of metals and non-metals on the
following aspects:
a. Reaction with oxygen
b. Reaction with water
c. Reaction with acids
d. Reaction with bases

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 3

 Question 28. What do you mean by displacement reactions? Describe an activity to
determine the order of increasing reactivity of the metals, zinc, iron,
and copper.

Question 29. Give the three uses of each of the following elements:

a. Iron
b. Chlorine
c. Nitrogen
d. Oxygen

Question 30. Describe the general uses of metals and non-metals.

HOTS

Question 31. All metals are ductile. Is the given statement true for all metals?

Question 32. Non metals are not used to make wires. Is the statement correct?
Explain.

Question 33. Aluminium foils are used to wrap food items. Suggest a reason for
this.

Question 34. Cu(s) + ZnSO4 (aq) → No reaction.

Explain why there will be no reaction in this case.

Question 35. A circuit is made up of a battery, bulb and a metal rod. The metal rod
is then replaced by a non metal rod. In which of the two cases will the
bulb glow? Explain.

Question 36. Can you store vinegar in an aluminium utensil? Explain.

Question 37. Dilute sulphuric acid is added to a copper cup. Explain the reaction
that will take place.

Question 38. A gas is released when methane is burnt in air. How will you check
whether the gas released is acidic or basic in nature.

Question 39. Generally, non-metals do not react with water though they may be
very reactive in air. Give an example of one such non metal and state
how it is stored.

Question 40. Acids react with metal to releases a gas. Name the gas and also
suggest a method to test it in the chemistry laboratory.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 4

 Value Based
Question 41. Aryan is conducting Value Based
the following experiment in his chemistry lab. He
placed iron nail in copper sulphate solution. He observed the fading of
the original color of the solution. His chemistry teacher explained him
the chemical reaction taking place.
a) Iron nails are placed in copper sulphate solution; explain the
chemical reaction involved.
b) Mention the value shown by Aryan.

Question 42. Kanchan wants to polish her gold jewelery. Her mother took her to the
jeweler who showed her the process of cleaning and polishing gold.
a) Explain the process of polishing gold.
b) Mention the value shown by Kanchan’s mother.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 5

 Answer Key

Very short answer type (1 mark)

Answer 1. The property of metal by virtue of which they can be beaten into thin
sheets is known as malleability.

Answer 2. The conducting properties of the materials are:

Copper Good Conductor

Rubber Insulator
Wood Insulator
Iron Good conductor
Sulphur Insulator

Answer 3. Metals:
Good conductor of heat and the electricity
Ductile in nature

Non-metals:
Bad conductor of heat and electricity
Brittle in nature

Answer 4. The brown colored layer on the iron is called rust. It’s chemical
formula is Fe2O3.H2O.

Answer 5. The oxides of metals are basic in nature, whereas the oxides of non-
metals are acidic in nature.

Answer 6. Sodium is usually stored in the kerosene.

Answer 7. When metal reacts with acid, it forms salt and releases hydrogen gas.
The release of hydrogen gas causes ‘pop’ sound.

Answer 8. The reaction is:

Zn s +CuSO4 aq Cu s ZnSO4

Answer 9. The copper or aluminum metal is generally used for the making of
electric wires.

Answer 10. Iodine reduces the thyroid hormone.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 6

 Short answer type (2 & 3 marks)
Answer 11. The physical properties of metals are-
Lustrous
Good electrical conductors
Good thermal conductors
Tensile in nature, which is called as the ductility.
Malleable in nature

Examples- Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Lithium

Answer 12. The physical properties of the non-metals are-

Non-lustrous
Poor electrical conductors
Poor thermal conductors
Brittle in nature
Non- malleable

Examples- Carbon, Sulphur, Selenium and Nitrogen

Answer 13. a. Sodium

b. Mercury

Answer 14. Magnesium is a metal and it burns in the presence of air and gives
light and heat.
2Mg s O2 g 2MgO s

Answer 15. The observation with sulphur

When sulphur is burnt, it gives sulphur dioxide gas.
Sulphur dioxide has an irritating odor and taste.
When the released gas is dissolved in water, it gives the Sulfurous
acid.
SO2 g H2O l H 2SO3 aq

Answer 16. White phosphorus is kept in the water because of its high flammability
in the presence of air or oxygen.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 7

 Answer 17.
Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide.

2Na s 2H 2O 2NaOH+H 2

Iron does not react directly with pure water; it reacts in the
presence of oxygen only.

4Fe 3O2 6H 2O 4Fe OH 3

4H 2O

Sulphur does not react with water in the normal condition.

Answer 18.
On reacting with sodium hydroxide, metals produce hydrogen gas.

Copper does not react with the hydrochloric acid.

When an iron nail is dipped in the copper sulphate solution, iron

displaces copper from its solution.

Fe s CuSO4 aq Cu s FeSO4 aq

Answer 19. Uses of metals are-

Metals are used in the electrical appliances.

Metals are used in making utensils.

Non metals are used for-

Making the batteries

Production of fertilisers

Answer 20. The uses of non-metals in our daily life:

Oxygen is life of all the living things.

Phosphorus is mostly used in the baking powder, fertilisers and

fireworks.

Chlorine is mostly used in water purification process.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 8

 Long answer type (5 marks)
Answer 21.

Metal Non-metal

The non-metals are non-

The metals are ductile in nature.
ductile.

Metals are lustrous in nature. Non-metals are non-lustrous.

Metals have the malleability. Non-metals are non-malleable.

Non-metals do not have good

Metals have good strength.
strength.
Metals are good conductor of Non-metals are insulator of the
heat and electricity. heat and the electricity.

Answer 22.
Malleability is defined as the property of material by virtue of
which of it can be converted into the sheet.

Ductility is defined as the property of material by virtue of which it

can be converted into the wires.

Sonority is defined as the property of the material by virtue of

which it produces ringing sound.

Luster is the property of the material, by virtue of which it give

glow or shines.

Conductivity is the property of the material by virtue of which

there is conduction of heat and the electricity in the material.

Answer 23.
Copper wires are used to electrical wires because copper is a good
conductor of electricity.

Potassium is non-malleable so it cannot be used to make foils..

Wood is not used to make bells because it is non-sonorous in

nature.

The handles of the cooking utensils are made of wood or plastic

because wood and plastic are bad conductors of heat .

Gold is used for the making jewellery because it is lustrous and

highly ductile in nature and so can be drawn into wires easily.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 9

Answer 24.
a. Formation of rust:

Fe Fe 2 2e
4Fe 2 O2 4Fe3+ 2O 2-
Fe 2 2H 2O Fe OH 2
2H
Fe3 3H 2 O Fe OH 3
3H
2FeO OH Fe 2O3 H 2O

2Cu O 2 2CuO
b.

Zn CuSO 4 ZnSO 4 Cu
c.

d. No reaction

Fe 2HCl FeCl 2 H2
e.

Answer 25. Activity to test the nature of the rust:

Take a spoonful of rust and dissolve it in water to make a thick

suspension.
Shake the suspension well.
Test this suspension with red and blue litmus paper.
On doing so, you will find that the suspension of rust turns red
litmus blue so it is basic in nature.

Answer 26.
Potassium is highly reactive metal. It reacts with air and water
vigorously so it is stored in kerosene.

Copper does not displace iron from iron sulphate solution because
copper is less reactive than iron and a less reactive metal cannot
replace a more reactive metal from its solution.

A green layer is formed on copper articles over a period of time

because copper reacts with moist air to form a mixture of copper
hydroxide and copper carbonate which is green in colour.

On reacting with sodium hydroxide, metals produce salt and

hydrogen gas. This hydrogen gas gives ‘pop’ sound.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 10

 Answer 27. For metals-

a. Metals react with the oxygen to form metal oxide.

b. Metals react with the water to form metal hydroxide.

c. Metals react with acids to form salt and hydrogen gas.

d. Metals react with bases to form salts and hydrogen gas.

For non-metals-

a. Non-metals react with oxygen to produce non-metallic oxide.

b. Non-metals do not react with water directly.

c. Reactions of non-metals with bases are complex.

Answer 28. When in a reaction, a more reactive reactant displaces a less reactive
reactant from its compound, the reaction is known as the displacement
reaction.

Activity-

Take three beakers, label them A,B and C and pour 50 ml of water
in each.
In beaker ‘A’ dissolve a teaspoonful of copper sulpahte and put
some zinc granules in it.
In beaker ‘B’ dissolve a teaspoonful of copper sulpahte and then
add some iron nails in it.
In beaker ‘C’ dissolve a teaspoonful of zinc sulpahte and add some
copper turnings.
Keep all these beakers undisturbed for some time.
After some time you will notice that colour of solutions has
changed in beakers ‘A’ and ‘B’ while there is no change in colour in
the beaker ‘C’.
We know that a more reactive metal displaces the less reactive
metal from its solution so we can conclude that the reactivity order
of these three metals is
Copper < iron < zinc

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 11

 Answer 29.
Iron
o Used in the automobile industry
o Used to make machines
o Used to make trains

Chlorine
o Used in the water purification process
o Used as a colorless regent
o Used in the industrial process, such as manufacturing of
bleaching powder

Nitrogen
o Important to the chemical industry
o Used to make fertilizers
o Used in the manufacturing of nitric acid

Oxygen
o Is a breathing gas.
o Used in the hospitals
o Used in the industrial processes

Answer 30. The general uses of metals and non metals:

Metals- Metals are used in making machinery, automobiles,

aeroplanes, trains, satellites, industrial gadgets, cooking utensils,
water boilers etc.

Non-metals- Non-metals are used in the manufacturing of fertilisers.

They are also used in the water purification processes. Non-metals are
used in making fire-crackers. Some non-metals are also used as
antiseptics.

HOTS

Answer 31. Generally, metals are ductile. However, mercury metal− a liquid at
room temperature − cannot be drawn into wires and is not ductile.

Answer 32. Non metals are not ductile. Ductility is the ability of metals be drawn
into wires. This property is not possessed by non metals.

Answer 33. Aluminium foils are used to wrap food items because aluminium metal
is malleable. Therefore, it can be beaten into thin foils.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 12

 Answer 34. A metal can displace a less reactive metal from its salt in an aqueous
solution. Here, zinc is more reactive than copper. Therefore, copper
cannot displace zinc from its salt solution. Thus, there will be no
reaction.

Answer 35. Metals are good conductors of electricity. Thus in the frost case, the
bulb will glow. When the metal is replaced by a non metal, the bulb
will not glow as non metal is a bad conductor of electricity.

Answer 36. Vinegar cannot be stored in aluminium utensils because vinegar

contains acids, which can react with aluminium (metal) liberating a
gas. This can lead to a change in the composition of vinegar and can
be harmful to use.

Answer 37. When dilute sulphuric acid is poured on a copper plate, the copper
metal reacts with sulphuric acid to liberate hydrogen gas.

Answer 38. Collect the released gas in a test tube. Add a few drops of water in the
test tube containing gas. Now, cover the test tube and shake it well.
After shaking, test the solution with blue litmus and red litmus. It will
turn blue litmus red. Thus, the gas is acidic in nature.

Answer 39. Phosphorus is a very reactive non-metal. It catches fire if exposed to

air. To prevent the contact of phosphorus with atmospheric oxygen, it
is stored in water.

Answer 40. The gas released is hydrogen . The test for hydrogen is that it burns
with a pop sound.

Value Based

Answer 41.
Value Based
Iron being more reactive displaces copper from copper sulphate
solution. In this reaction, the blue colour of copper sulphate fades and
there is deposition of copper on the iron nail.

b) Aryan is a keen learner who learns by hands on experiment.

Answer 42. a) To polish a gold ornament, it is dipped in a liquid called aquaregia

(a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid). On getting the
environment of aquaregia, the outer layer of gold dissolves and the
inner shiny layer appears. The dissolving of the layer causes a
reduction in the weight of the jewellery.

b) Kanchan’s mother is a good guardian who wants her daughter to

understand the concepts of science.

Class 8-Science-Materials-Metals and Non-metals 13