Class 10 Science · Chapter 3

Metals and Non-metals

344 Class 10 Science questions on Metals and Non-metals from the NCERT textbook, NCERT Exemplar and CBSE board papers 2017–2026, each with its answer and a step-by-step solution.

CBSE Class 10 Science previous year papers, with answers →

Questions · page 6 of 18

1. Q101 CBSE 2026
   Magnesium ribbon burns with a dazzling ​white ​flame and changes into a white ​powder as shown in the diagram given below ​: The powder is dissolved in water. Identify the chemical formula of the ​white powder and the correct change observed when the solution ​is tested with litmus paper.

   1. (a)$\text{MgO}$, turns blue litmus into red.
   2. (b)$\text{MgO}$, turns red litmus blue.
   3. (c)${\text{MgO}}_2$, turns red litmus blue.
   4. (d)${\text{Mg}}_2\text{O}$, turns blue litmus red.
   Show answer

   (b) $\text{MgO}$, turns red litmus blue.

   Step-by-step solution →
2. Q102 CBSE 2026
   When Mg metal ​is treated ​with hot water, it ​starts floating on ​the ​surface of the ​water. The ​reason for its different behaviour is :

   1. (a)Mg is a lighter element than water.
   2. (b)Mg reacts with water to produce ${\text{H}}_2$ gas which helps in floating.
   3. (c)Mg reacts with water to produce ${\text{N}}_2$ gas which helps in floating.
   4. (d)Mg reacts with water to form ${\text{CO}}_2$ gas which helps in floating.
   Show answer

   (b) Mg reacts with water to produce ${\text{H}}_2$ gas which helps in floating.

   Step-by-step solution →
3. Q103 CBSE 2026
   Which one ​of the following ​non-metals exists ​as liquid at ​room temperature ​?

   1. (a)Bromine
   2. (b)Sulphur
   3. (c)Iodine
   4. (d)Chlorine
   Show answer

   (a) Bromine

   Step-by-step solution →
4. Q104 CBSE 2026
   Which ​of the ​following metal does ​not ​react with cold water, but reacts ​with ​steam ?

   1. (a)Sodium
   2. (b)Potassium
   3. (c)Iron
   4. (d)Calcium
   Show answer

   (c) Iron

   Step-by-step solution →
5. Q105 CBSE 2026
   Which one of the ​following ​metals ​does ​not ​react ​with ​cold ​water ?

   1. (a)Sodium
   2. (b)Potassium
   3. (c)Calcium
   4. (d)Magnesium
   Show answer

   (d) Magnesium

   Step-by-step solution →
6. Q106 CBSE 2026
   Which ​one of the following ​metals neither reacts with ​cold water nor reacts with hot water but ​reacts ​with steam ​?

   1. (a)Sodium
   2. (b)Calcium
   3. (c)Iron
   4. (d)Magnesium
   Show answer

   (c) Iron

   Step-by-step solution →
7. Q107 CBSE 2026
   Which ​of ​the ​following is ​a poor ​conductor ​of electricity ​?

   1. (a)Pb
   2. (b)Cu
   3. (c)Ag
   4. (d)Al
   Show answer

   (a) Pb

   Step-by-step solution →
8. Q108 CBSE 2026
   The ​reaction of ​calcium ​with cold ​water ​is :

   1. (a)Less violent, but the heat evolved is sufficient for the hydrogen to catch fire.
   2. (b)Very violent and exothermic and hydrogen catches fire.
   3. (c)Exothermic, but the heat evolved is not sufficient for the hydrogen to catch fire.
   4. (d)Slow and endothermic.
   Show answer

   (c) Exothermic, but the heat evolved is not sufficient for the hydrogen to catch fire.

   Step-by-step solution →
9. Q109 CBSE 2026
   Which one ​among the ​following ​alloys has ​mercury as one of its ​constituents ​?

   1. (a)Stainless steel
   2. (b)Brass
   3. (c)Zinc amalgam
   4. (d)Bronze
   Show answer

   (c) Zinc amalgam

   Step-by-step solution →
10. Q110 CBSE 2026
    Which of the ​following ​metals ​forms ​an amphoteric oxide ​?

    1. (a)Calcium
    2. (b)Magnesium
    3. (c)Aluminium
    4. (d)Iron
    Show answer

    (c) Aluminium

    Step-by-step solution →
11. Q111 CBSE 2026
    Alloys ​are ​homogeneous mixture of ​metal with ​a ​metal or non-metal. Which among the following alloys contain non-metal as ​one of its ​constituents ?

    1. (a)Brass
    2. (b)Bronze
    3. (c)Amalgam
    4. (d)Steel
    Show answer

    (d) Steel

    Step-by-step solution →
12. Q112 CBSE 2026
    Solder is an alloy of

    1. (a)copper and zinc
    2. (b)lead and zinc
    3. (c)lead and tin
    4. (d)copper and tin
    Show answer

    (c) lead and tin

    Step-by-step solution →
13. Q113 CBSE 2026
    When an element ​‘X’ ​reacts with water, ​it starts floating. ​Identify the element ​‘X’ ​:

    1. (a)Potassium
    2. (b)Calcium
    3. (c)Sodium
    4. (d)Iron
    Show answer

    (b) Calcium

    Step-by-step solution →
14. Q114 CBSE 2026
    A student notices that her silver jewellery ​turned dull ​and had a grey-black ​coating over it after wearing for a few months. What results in ​the change ​in ​colour ​of the silver metal ​?

    1. (a)The polish over the jewellery was removed after wearing for a few months.
    2. (b)The jewellery comes in contact with air, moisture and acids and corrodes.
    3. (c)Dust particles over the jewellery change its colour.
    4. (d)Its colour changes due to rusting.
    Show answer

    (b) The jewellery comes in contact with air, moisture and acids and corrodes.

    Step-by-step solution →
15. Q115 CBSE 2026
    Which ​gas ​is ​evolved when ​magnesium ​metal reacts with very ​dilute ${\text{HNO}}_3$ ​?

    1. (a)Oxygen
    2. (b)Nitrogen
    3. (c)Hydrogen
    4. (d)Nitrogen Dioxide
    Show answer

    (c) Hydrogen

    Step-by-step solution →
16. Q116 CBSE 2026
    On reaction ​with ​dilute HCl, which ​of ​the ​following pair of metals ​will evolve hydrogen gas ​?

    1. (a)copper and zinc
    2. (b)copper and iron
    3. (c)silver and magnesium
    4. (d)magnesium and aluminium
    Show answer

    (d) magnesium and aluminium

    Step-by-step solution →
17. Q117 CBSE 2026
    Galvanization is a process of coating iron ​articles ​with ​a thin layer of zinc to prevent iron from rusting. The iron is protected even if the zinc coating is scratched and ​iron is exposed. Which ​of the following is/are true ​about how zinc prevents the rusting of iron ? (P) ​A galvanised iron article does not undergo oxidation. (Q) The zinc coating prevents contact of iron with air. (R) Zinc provides continuous protection to iron from rusting.

    1. (a)Only (P)
    2. (b)Only (Q)
    3. (c)(Q) and (R)
    4. (d)(P) and (Q)
    Show answer

    (c) (Q) and (R)

    Step-by-step solution →
18. Q118 CBSE 2026
    1. (a)What are ​amphoteric ​oxides ?
    2. (b)​Categorise the ​following ​based on ​their ​nature ​: $\text{ZnO}$, ${\text{Na}}_2\text{O}$, ${\text{CO}}_2$
    Show answer

    Amphoteric oxides react with both acids and bases; $\text{ZnO}$ is amphoteric, ${\text{Na}}_2\text{O}$ basic and ${\text{CO}}_2$ acidic.

    (a) Amphoteric oxides are metal oxides that react with both acids and bases to produce a salt and water, for example $\text{ZnO}$ and ${\text{Al}}_2{\text{O}}_3$. (b) $\text{ZnO}$ is an amphoteric oxide, ${\text{Na}}_2\text{O}$ is a basic oxide and ${\text{CO}}_2$ is an acidic oxide.

    Step-by-step solution →
19. Q119 CBSE 2026
    Read the following passage ​and answer the questions that follow ​: One student was comparing the reactivity ​of ​different metals for his ​science project. He added ​iron filings in four test tubes A, B, C and D ​containing ​aqueous solutions of ${\text{ZnSO}}_4$, ${\text{CuSO}}_4$, ${\text{FeSO}}_4$ and ${\text{Al}}_2({\text{SO}}_4{)}_3$.

    1. (i)In which of the test tubes will he observe the reaction to be the most vigorous and why ?[1]
    2. (ii)Write a balanced equation for the reaction involved.[1]
    Show answer

    Test tube B, because iron is more reactive than copper and displaces it from copper sulphate: $\text{Fe}+{\text{CuSO}}_4\to {\text{FeSO}}_4+\text{Cu}$.

    (i) Test tube B, which contains copper sulphate. Iron is more reactive than copper, so it displaces copper from copper sulphate solution; iron is less reactive than zinc and aluminium and cannot displace itself, so no displacement takes place in A, C or D. In B the blue solution turns pale green and a reddish-brown coating of copper forms on the iron filings. (ii) $\text{Fe(s)}+{\text{CuSO}}_4\text{(aq)}⟶{\text{FeSO}}_4\text{(aq)}+\text{Cu(s)}$

    Step-by-step solution →
20. Q120 CBSE 2026
    Write ​balanced equations ​for ​the reactions of the following :

    1. (a)​Iron with ​steam
    2. (b)Calcium ​with water
    Show answer

    Iron with steam gives ${\text{Fe}}_3{\text{O}}_4$ and hydrogen; calcium with water gives ${\text{Ca(OH)}}_2$ and hydrogen.

    (a) Iron with steam: $3\text{Fe(s)}+4{\text{H}}_2\text{O(g)}\to {\text{Fe}}_3{\text{O}}_4\text{(s)}+4{\text{H}}_2\text{(g)}$ (b) Calcium with water: $\text{Ca(s)}+2{\text{H}}_2\text{O(l)}\to {\text{Ca(OH)}}_2\text{(aq)}+{\text{H}}_2\text{(g)}$

    Step-by-step solution →