Practice Test: Metals and Non-Metals (Class X Science)

1. An iron gate is coated with zinc. Over time, the coating gets scratched in some places. What will
happen to the gate?

Answer: It will rust slower because zinc still protects the iron (Option b).

2. Aluminium is used to make utensils for cooking. Which of the following properties makes it suitable?

Answer: All of the above (high thermal conductivity, low density, non-reactivity with food) (Option d).

3. In a water purifier, activated carbon is used to remove impurities. What property of carbon is used in
this process?

Answer: High absorption capacity (Option b).

4. Why is copper often used to make electrical wiring despite being more expensive than aluminium?

Answer: Copper has higher electrical conductivity (Option b).

5. A silver ornament turns black over time. This happens due to the formation of:

Answer: Silver sulphide (Option b).

6. In a school science experiment, a student dipped iron nails in a solution of copper sulphate. What is
observed?

Answer: A reddish-brown deposit forms on the nails (Option c).

7. Which of the following methods is used to prevent the corrosion of a ship's hull in seawater?

Answer: Sacrificial anode method (Option c).

8. Why is magnesium ribbon cleaned before burning in air?

Answer: To remove the protective oxide layer (Option b).

9. Gold is alloyed with copper to make jewellery. What property of gold is improved by this?

Answer: Hardness (Option b).

10. Stainless steel does not rust easily. This is because of:

Answer: Presence of chromium (Option b).

11. A soft drink is stored in a glass bottle with a metal cap. Which property of glass makes it suitable for
this purpose?

Answer: Non-reactive (Option b).

12. Aluminium foils are used to wrap food items because:

Answer: Aluminium is malleable and resistant to corrosion (Option b).

13. Zinc is used to coat iron in galvanisation. Why is zinc preferred over other metals?

Answer: It forms a protective oxide layer (Option b).

14. The aqua regia solution is used to dissolve noble metals like gold and platinum. What is the
composition of aqua regia?

Answer: 3 parts HCl and 1 part HNO3 (Option b).

15. Iron pipes are coated with zinc to prevent rusting. What happens when the zinc layer is completely
removed?

Answer: The pipe rusts faster (Option b).

16. Why is carbon used in the extraction of metals like zinc and iron from their oxides?

Answer: It reduces metal oxides to metals (Option b).

17. A silver chloride solution is kept in a dark-colored bottle. Why?

Answer: To protect it from light, which decomposes silver chloride (Option b).

18. Anodising is a process used to make aluminium more durable .What happens during anodising?

Answer: A layer of aluminium oxide is made thicker.

19. Copppe vessels are often coated with tin.What purpose does this serve?

Answer:To prevent reaction with acidic food.

20. Which gas is evolved when zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid?

Ans: hydrogen

21. Why is sodium stored in kerosene while phosphorus is stored in water?

Answer: Sodium reacts vigorously with water and air; kerosene prevents this reaction. Phosphorus
catches fire in air but remains stable under water.

22. Differentiate between ionic and covalent bonds in terms of their formation and examples involving
metals and non-metals.

Answer: Ionic bonds: Formed by transfer of electrons (e.g., NaCl). Covalent bonds: Formed by sharing of
electrons (e.g., H2O).

23. Explain why copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid, but zinc does.

Answer: Copper is less reactive than hydrogen and cannot displace it. Zinc is more reactive and
displaces hydrogen to form zinc chloride.

24. Aluminium is a highly reactive metal, yet it is widely used for making cooking utensils. Why?

Answer: Aluminium forms a protective oxide layer that prevents further reaction and ensures durability.

25. Why is galvanisation done? Write one advantage and one limitation of this process.

Answer: Galvanisation is done to protect iron and steel from corrosi.It involves coating the surface of
the metal with a layer of zinc.Additionally, even if the zinc coating gets scratched ,zinc is more reactive
than iron and under goes corrosion first ,protecting the base metal through a process called sacrificial
protection.
Advantage: Prevents rusting of iron by forming a protective layer.
Limitation: Does not protect against scratches exposing the iron underneath.

26. A student added zinc granules to copper sulphate solution. Write the chemical equation for the
reaction and explain the change observed.

Answer: Equation: Zn + CuSO4 → ZnSO4 + Cu.

Observation: The solution turns colorless, and copper is deposited.

27. A student conducted an experiment by heating a piece of magnesium ribbon in air. After the reaction,
the product formed was white and powdery.

Answer: Chemical equation: 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO.

The product (magnesium oxide) is white due to its composition.
Precautions: Clean the ribbon to remove the oxide layer and wear safety goggles.

28. During an industrial process, a layer of zinc is coated on iron to prevent corrosion. The treated iron
is exposed to air and moisture over time.

Answer: Galvanisation prevents rusting by forming a protective zinc layer.

Zinc corrodes in place of iron, protecting it from rusting.
If scratched, rusting accelerates on exposed iron.

29. Iron is extracted from its ore, haematite, using carbon in a blast furnace, while aluminium is
extracted using the electrolytic method.

Answer: Carbon reduces iron oxide to iron in the furnace.

Aluminium requires electrolysis as it is highly reactive.
Reactions: Fe2O3 + 3C → 2Fe + 3CO; Al2O3 → 2Al + 3O2 (via electrolysis).

30. A piece of copper wire is connected to a power source, and the wire is placed in a solution of silver
nitrate. After a few minutes, silver deposits are observed on the copper wire.

Answer: Equation: Cu + 2AgNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2Ag.

Displacement reaction occurs as copper is more reactive than silver.

31.A student observes that aluminium reacts with chlorine to form aluminium chloride, a) while sodium
reacts similarly with chlorine to form sodium chloride.
b) Write the chemical equations for the reactions of both metals with chlorine.
c) Compare the reactivity of sodium and aluminium in these reactions.
d) Why is sodium stored in kerosene, but aluminium does not require the same treatment?
Ans: Answer:Reactions:
2Al + 3Cl₂ → 2AlCl₃
2Na + Cl₂ → 2NaCl
Sodium is a more reactive metal than aluminum. Sodium reacts vigorously with chlorine, often with a
bright flame, to form sodium chloride.
Aluminum, though reactive, forms a protective oxide layer on its surface, that slows its reaction with
chlorine under normal conditions.
Reasons for Storage:
Sodium is extremely reactive and reacts with moisture in the air, forming sodium hydroxide and
hydrogen gas, which can ignite spontaneously. To prevent this, sodium is stored in kerosene.
 Aluminum, though reactive, forms a strong, stable oxide layer on its surface when exposed to air. This
layer prevents further reactions, making it unnecessary to store aluminum under kerosene or other
protective mediums.

32. An industrial factory uses copper wires to transmit electricity. Over time, the copper wires develop a
greenish coating on their surface.

a. Explain the chemical reaction that leads to the greenish coating on copper wires.

b. How can this corrosion be prevented? Why is copper preferred over other metals for electrical
wiring?

Ans: A)Copper reacts with moist CO2 in the air and slowly looses its shiny brown surface and gains a
green coat.This green substance is basic copper carbonate.

Cu+O2--> Cu2O

Cu2O+CO2+H2O-->Cu(OH)2CO3(greenish patina)

B) Prevention: oil coating, anti corrosion sprays,regular cleaning, cathodic protection.,insulation.

Copper is preferred for electrical wiring for its high electrical conductivity, high ductility ,thermal
conductivity and corrosion resistance.

33.Zinc is commonly used to protect iron and steel from rusting, and it is also used in the process of
galvanization.

i) Describe the role of zinc in galvanization.

ii) What happens when zinc corrodes in the presence of oxygen and moisture?

iii) Explain how the sacrificial anode method works in protecting iron from rusting.

Ans:I)Galvanization is the process of coating iron or steel with a layer of zinc to protect it from rusting.

The role of zinc is:

1. Barrier protection: Zinc acts as a physical barrier, preventing air and moisture from coming into
contact with the iron or steel.

2. Cathodic protection: Zinc is more reactive than iron.If the coating is scratched or damaged, zinc
corrodes preferentially, protecting the underlying iron or steel.

ii)When zinc is exposed to oxygen and moisture ,it forms a protective layer of zinc hydroxide,which later
reacts with CO2 in the air to form zinc carbonate.

This layer of zinc carbonate is insoluble and adheres to the zinc surface, preventing further corrosion.

Iii)Sacrificial anode method: This method involves attaching a more reactive metal eg..zinc,magnesium or
alluminium to the iron or steel structure to protect it from rusting.

In the presence of an electrolyte (water with dissolved salts) the sacrificial anode metal (zinc or
magnesium)corrodes instead of iron and steel because it is more reactive. Iron acts as cathode.This method
is commonly used to protect pipelines, ship hulls, water tanks and water heaters.

34. Explain why ionic compounds exhibit high melting and boiling points but do not conduct electricity
in the solid state.
Answer: Ionic compounds have strong electrostatic forces, requiring high energy to break.
In the solid state, ions are fixed and cannot move to conduct electricity.

35. A metal 'X' reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce a gas 'Y'. This gas burns with a pop sound.

Answer: Identify: X = Zinc, Y = Hydrogen.

Equation: Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2.
Explanation: Hydrogen gas is released, creating a pop sound.

Some metals do not react with dilute acids becoz they are less reactive and donot displace hydrogen
from acids,For a metal to react with a dilute acids it must be more reactive than hydrogen gas.

36. Analyze the following situations and explain:

i) Why does aluminium form a protective oxide layer when exposed to air, and how does this benefit
its usage?

ii) Copper does not react with dilute HCl but reacts with concentrated nitric acid.
iii) Why is sodium stored in kerosene?

Answer: i) Aluminium forms a stable oxide layer, preventing further oxidation and corrosion.
ii) Copper is less reactive than hydrogen ,hence cannot displace hydrogen from dil HCl.Concentrated
nitric acid is a strong oxidizer, allowing copper to react and form nitrates.,hydrogen gas is oxidised to
H2O.
iii) Sodium reacts vigorously with air and water, so kerosene prevents such reactions.

37. Metals like potassium and sodium are highly reactive, while metals like gold and platinum are least
reactive.
a) Why does potassium react vigorously with water while iron reacts slowly?

Answer: Potassium is highly reactive and reacts with water to form potassium hydroxide and hydrogen
gas. Iron is less reactive, resulting in a slower reaction.

38. Metals like iron are extracted using reduction of their oxides with carbon, while metals like
aluminium are extracted by electrolysis due to their high reactivity.
a) Explain why carbon cannot be used to reduce aluminium oxide.
b) Write the balanced equation for the extraction of iron from hematite (Fe2O3) using carbon.

Answer: a) Aluminium is more reactive than carbon, so carbon cannot reduce aluminium oxide.
b) Fe2O3 + 3C → 2Fe + 3CO.

39. Some metals like magnesium and zinc react with dilute acids to release hydrogen gas, while non-
metals do not generally react with acids.
a) Why do metals release hydrogen gas when reacting with acids, but non-metals do not?
b) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction of zinc with dilute sulfuric acid.

Answer: a) Metals react with acids to form salts and release hydrogen gas as a byproduct. Non-metals
do not displace hydrogen in acids.
b) Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2.

40. Ionic compounds are formed when metals transfer electrons to non-metals. They have high melting
points, are soluble in water, and conduct electricity in molten or aqueous states.
a) Why do ionic compounds not conduct electricity in the solid state?
b) Explain the importance of electrostatic forces in ionic bonding.
Answer: a) In the solid state, ions are fixed in a lattice structure and cannot move to conduct electricity.
b) Electrostatic forces hold positive and negative ions together, providing stability and high
melting/boiling points to ionic compounds.