CBSE Class 10 - Metals and Non-metals Notes & MCQ

January 05, 2026

Metals and Non-Metals

CBSE Class 10 - Metals and Non-metals Notes & MCQ

Classification of Elements

Out of 118 known elements:

  • ~92 are naturally occurring
  • ~80+ are metals
  • ~20-25 are non-metals
  • Metalloids: Show properties of both (e.g., Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te)

Metals are on the left; Non-metals are on the right of the periodic table.

Physical Properties: Metals vs Non-metals

Property Metals Non-metals Exceptions
State Mostly solid Solid, liquid (Br), gas Mercury (liquid metal)
Appearance Lustrous (Shiny) Mostly dull Iodine & Graphite (Shiny)
Malleability Can be beaten to sheets Brittle (breaks) -
Conductivity Very good Poor (Insulators) Graphite & Diamond (conductors)
Hardness Generally hard Soft Na, K, Li (Soft); Diamond (Hard)

Chemical Properties of Metals

a) Reaction with Oxygen

Metal + O₂ → Metal oxide (Basic)

  • 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
  • Amphoteric Oxides: Show both acidic and basic nature (Al₂O₃, ZnO).

b) Reaction with Water

  • Na, K: React violently with cold water.
  • Mg, Fe: React with hot water or steam.
  • Cu, Ag, Au: No reaction.

c) Reactivity Series

K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > H > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au

Metals above Hydrogen displace H₂ from dilute acids. More reactive metals displace less reactive ones from salt solutions.

Occurrence & Metallurgy

  • Minerals: Naturally occurring metal compounds.
  • Ores: Minerals processed for profit (e.g., Bauxite for Al).

Steps in Metallurgy

  1. Enrichment: Removing impurities (gangue).
  2. Roasting: Heating sulphide ores in air.
  3. Calcination: Heating carbonate ores without air.
  4. Reduction: Using Carbon or Electrolysis.
  5. Refining: Purification (Electrolytic refining).

Ionic Compounds

Formed between Metals and Non-metals (e.g., NaCl).

  • High melting and boiling points.
  • Conduct electricity when molten or in water.
  • Soluble in water.

Corrosion

  • Iron: Rust (Fe₂O₃·xH₂O)
  • Silver: Black coating (Ag₂S)
  • Copper: Green coating (Basic Copper Carbonate)

Prevention: Galvanisation (Zn coating), Painting, Alloying, or Anodising.

Quick Revision Table

Fact Element/Material
Best conductor of electricity Silver
Liquid non-metal Bromine
Stored under kerosene Sodium (Na) & Potassium (K)
Hardest substance Diamond

MCQs: Metals and Non-Metals

  1. Which of the following is the best conductor of electricity?
    1. Iron
    2. Silver
    3. Copper
    4. Aluminium
    Ans: B) Silver
  2. Which metal is liquid at room temperature?
    1. Sodium
    2. Mercury
    3. Gallium
    4. Both B and C
    Ans: D) Both B and C

    (Mercury is liquid; Gallium melts at ~29.8°C)

  3. The most reactive metal among the following is:
    1. Iron
    2. Zinc
    3. Potassium
    4. Copper
    Ans: C) Potassium
  4. Which of the following oxides is amphoteric in nature?
    1. Na₂O
    2. CaO
    3. Al₂O₃
    4. CO₂
    Ans: C) Al₂O₃
  5. Which non-metal shows lustre?
    1. Carbon (graphite)
    2. Sulphur
    3. Phosphorus
    4. Oxygen
    Ans: A) Carbon (graphite)
  6. The reaction: Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu is an example of:
    1. Combination reaction
    2. Displacement reaction
    3. Double displacement reaction
    4. Decomposition reaction
    Ans: B) Displacement reaction
  7. Which metal does NOT react with dilute HCl to produce hydrogen gas?
    1. Magnesium
    2. Zinc
    3. Copper
    4. Aluminium
    Ans: C) Copper
  8. The process of heating sulphide ore strongly in air is called:
    1. Calcination
    2. Roasting
    3. Smelting
    4. Refining
    Ans: B) Roasting
  9. Which of the following metals is stored under kerosene?
    1. Aluminium
    2. Magnesium
    3. Sodium
    4. Iron
    Ans: C) Sodium
  10. The green coating formed on copper when exposed to moist air is:
    1. CuO
    2. Cu₂O
    3. CuCO₃·Cu(OH)₂
    4. CuSO₄
    Ans: C) CuCO₃·Cu(OH)₂
  11. Which of the following is the hardest natural substance?
    1. Graphite
    2. Diamond
    3. Iron
    4. Tungsten
    Ans: B) Diamond
  12. Galvanisation is a process of applying a thin layer of:
    1. Tin
    2. Zinc
    3. Copper
    4. Chromium
    Ans: B) Zinc
  13. Which of the following metals can be cut with a knife?
    1. Iron
    2. Sodium
    3. Aluminium
    4. Zinc
    Ans: B) Sodium
  14. The ore of aluminium is:
    1. Haematite
    2. Bauxite
    3. Cinnabar
    4. Magnetite
    Ans: B) Bauxite
  15. Which property is generally NOT shown by metals?
    1. Malleability
    2. Ductility
    3. Brittleness
    4. Sonority
    Ans: C) Brittleness
  16. In the reactivity series, the metal placed just below hydrogen is:
    1. Lead
    2. Copper
    3. Mercury
    4. Silver
    Ans: B) Copper
  17. Which of the following is used for making food-grade containers (tin cans)?
    1. Galvanisation
    2. Tinning
    3. Anodising
    4. Alloying
    Ans: B) Tinning
  18. Which compound is formed when sodium reacts with water?
    1. Sodium oxide
    2. Sodium hydroxide
    3. Sodium peroxide
    4. Sodium carbonate
    Ans: B) Sodium hydroxide
  19. The metal that shows the highest reactivity with oxygen is:
    1. Gold
    2. Silver
    3. Sodium
    4. Copper
    Ans: C) Sodium
  20. Stainless steel is an alloy mainly of:
    1. Iron + Carbon
    2. Iron + Chromium + Nickel
    3. Iron + Zinc
    4. Iron + Tin
    Ans: B) Iron + Chromium + Nickel

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