Podar International School, Osmanabad

Std: VIII Subject : Science Chapter 4 Materials – Metals and Non Metals

Value of Chapter : Every action leads to certain outcomes.

Textbook Exercise:
1. Tick () the correct option.

a. is good conductor of electricity therefore it can be used in electric wires.

i. Carbon ii. Hydrogen iii. Copper iv. Silicon

b. is a non-metal which is used as a fuel in spaceships.

i. Hydrogen ii. Oxygen iii. Sulphur iv. Carbon

c. is used to make electrical components like transistors, integrated circuits,

microprocessors and chips used in computers.
i. Phosphorus ii. Mercury iii. Silicon iv. Lead

d. is a metal which is used in paints.

i. Copper ii. Lead iii. Graphite iv. Aluminium

2. State whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

a) All metal oxides are basic in nature. True

b) Mercury is a metal and exists in solid form at room temperature. False
c) Sodium can be kept in water or in direct contact with air. False

3. Match the following.

Column A Column B
a) Brittle Non Metals
b) Sonorous Metals
c) Foils Aluminium
d) Liquid Metal Mercury

4. Name the following:

a. The process that results in corrosion of iron. Rusting
b. The reaction in which a more reactive metal replaces a less reactive metal. Displacement reaction.
c. A non-metal used as a fungicide and a pesticide. Sulphur
d. A substance used to store sodium and potassium. Kerosene

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5. Answer the following questions in short.
a. What product is formed when magnesium reacts with oxygen?
Ans: When a magnesium ribbon is burnt in the presence of oxygen, it catches fire and burns with a
bright white flame resulting in the formation of magnesium oxide.

b. Write two uses of oxygen.

Ans: Oxygen is used in the manufacture of steel to oxidise impurities, oxygen flame is used for cutting
and welding metal scraps.

c. What is the product formed when magnesium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid?
Ans: The reaction between magnesium (Mg) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) combine to form
a salt of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and release hydrogen gas (H2).

e. Why is it difficult to make tools from coal as compared to iron?

Ans: Iron being a metal possesses a property known as malleability which is the ability to bebeaten
into sheets. Most metals are malleable. Coal being Non-metal, if beaten, breaks into pieces.
Thus, coal is not considered as malleable.

f. What is the reactivity series?

Ans: The arrangement of metals in decreasing order of their reactivity is known as reactivity series.

6. Give reasons.

a. Iron is used in construction of bridges.

Ans: Iron is a strong hard and tough metal, hence it can resist the high load, stress and strain.
Also, it is capable to lift a load of different things at the same time. Hence it is used in construction of bridges.

b. A change is not seen when sulphur is added to dil. hydrochloric acid.

Ans: Non-metals generally do not react with acids. However, sulphur and phosphorus react only with
hot concentrated acids not with dil. Hydrochloric acid.

c. It is difficult to make bells with wood.

Ans: Wood is non metal and non-metals do not produce a ringing sound and hence are said to be
non-sonorous.
d. Silver jewellery such as earrings, necklaces etc. tarnish after sometime.
Ans: Metals like magnesium, aluminium and silver react comparatively slowly with air. When kept open
for longer time, these metals get tarnished due to the formation of a thin layer of oxide on their surface

7. Answer the following questions in detail.

a. Differentiate between metals and non-metals with respect to the points given below:
i. Physical state :
Ans: Metals are solids at room temperature while Non metals exist in all three states
ii. Hardness: Metals are hard and usually Non- metals are brittle.
iii. Malleability: Metals can be beaten up into sheets while Non metals cannot be beaten up into sheets.

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b. Explain the term rusting. Give a word reaction.
Ans: Rusting is a process in which a reddish-brown coating is formed on iron objects due to
their exposure to moist air. During this process the surface of iron gets corroded due to the
chemical reaction between iron and oxygen in presence of moisture (water vapour) to form
iron oxide. i.e.
Iron + Moisture + Oxygen Iron Oxide (Rust).

c. Give five uses of common metals.

Ans: Iron - Pig iron is used to make pipes, railings, cylinders and storage tanks. On the other hand,
wrought iron is used to make agricultural tools, bolts, chains and nails.
Copper is used to make electric wires and cables, heating utensils, car radiators, coins and statues.
Aluminum is used for making parts of aircrafts and ships, transmission wires and cables,
cooking utensils, etc. Aluminium foils are used in packaging of medicines, cigarettes and
food materials.
Nickel is used as a catalyst in many industrial processes as well as for electroplating and in
the manufacture of stainless steel.
Lead is used in making water pipes, in storage batteries, in making alloys and in paints.
Mercury is used in thermometers.
Gold, silver, platinum are used in making jewellery and ornaments

e. Give five uses of non-metals.

Ans: Uses of some common non-metals
Hydrogen is used for making ammonia. Liquid hydrogen is used as fuel in spaceships, in
conversion of vegetable oil into ghee, and as a reducing agent in industrial processes.
Carbon exists in various forms like diamond, graphite, coal, charcoal etc. Diamond is used as
a gem. Graphite is used as lead in pencils, as an electrode and as a lubricant. Coal is used as
fuel. Charcoal is used as a decolorising agent as well in water filters as an adsorbent.
Nitrogen is used in food canning and electrical bulbs; for the production of nitrogen
compounds which are used as fertilisers, etc. Liquid nitrogen is used to preserve biological
specimens by providing low temperatures.
Oxygen is used in the manufacture of steel to oxidise impurities, oxygen flame is used for
cutting and welding metal scraps.
Sulphur is used as a fungicide and an insecticide, in manufacturing of sulphuric acid, in
vulcanization of rubber.