Chapter 3 – Metals and non-metals

Case study-based questions

Question 1

Metals are the elements which are often found in nature in combined form (as ores) but few metals occur in free
state too. Metals possess such specific properties which make them very useful in practical life. The properties
shown by them are lustrous surface, they can also be polished for obtaining a highly reflective surface, hard and
strong in nature, good conductor of heat and electricity and also malleable and ductile. But few metals are
exceptionally different too in some properties like Sodium and Potassium are exceptional cases in this case as
they can be cut with knife. Metallic elements possess high melting and boiling points too.

1.Which of the following metals is the most abundant in earth crust?

(a) Al

(b) Fe

( c) Na

(d) Ca

2.Which of the following is the poor conductor of heat among given metals:

(a) Na

(b) Ca

(c) Pb

(d) Hg

3.Metal with highest melting point:

(a) Tungsten

(b) Mercury

(c) Molybdenum

(d) Osmium

4. Bauxite is an ore of:

(a) Na

(b) Al

(c) Pb

(d) Hg
5.Soft metals:

(a) Chlorine and bromine

(b) Lithium and magnesium

(c) Zinc and cadmium

(d) Sodium and potassium

Question 2

Electrolytic refining is a technique that is used for extraction and purification of metals that are obtained by
refining methods. The impure metal is used as an anode and the pure metal is used as a cathode. Soluble salt
from the same metal is used as an electrolyte. When electric current is passed, pure metal is obtained at cathode
and impure under anode as anode mud.

1.Which one of the following figures describes electrolytic refining:

2.In electrolytic refining, the cathode is made up of

a) Pure metal
b) Impure metal
c) Alloy
d) Metallic salt
 3. Which of the following represent the correct order of decreasing reactivity?
a) Mg > Al > Zn > Fe
b) Mg > Zn > Al > Fe
c) Al > Zn > Fe > Mg
d) Mg > Fe > Zn > Al

4. Metals are refined by using different methods. Which of the following metals are refined by electrolytic
refining?
(a) Au
(b) Cu
(c) Na
(d) K
A. (A) & (B)
B. (A) & (C)
C. (B) & (C)
D. (C) & (D)

5. During electrolytic refining of zinc, it gets

(a) Deposited on cathode
(b) Deposited on anode
(c) Deposited on cathode as well as anode
(d) Remains in the solution

Question 3

Rusting of iron refers to the formation of layer of rust, a mixture of iron oxides, on the surface of iron objects or
structures. This rust is formed from a redox reaction between oxygen and iron in the environment containing
moist air. This process is characterized by the formation of a red flaky layer on iron article.

1.Rusting of iron takes place in:

(a) Ordinary water

(b) Distilled water

( c) Both a and b

(d) None

2. Rusting involves------------?

(a) Reduction

(b)oxidation
© Decomposition

(d) Displacement

3. Rusting of iron is ------

a) oxidative corrosion

b) Liquid metal corrosion

c) Wet corrosion

d) Corrosion by other gases

4. Galvanization refers to depositing layer of :

a) Zinc

b) Sodium

c) Potassium

d) Magnesium

5. Silver corrode and the composition of layer formed is:

a) Ag3N

b) Ag2O

c) Ag2S

d)Both c and a

Question 4

Non-metals are the elements which forms negatively charged ions by accepting electrons. They usually have 4,5,6
or 7 valence electrons in their outermost shell. They lack lustre and are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
They are good insulators and are mostly gases, few solid and one liquid at room temperature.

1.Chlorides of non-metals are covalent because:

a) sharing electrons

b) as they donate electrons to chlorine

c) they can’t share electrons with chlorine

d) they donate electrons to chlorine to form chloride ion.

2.Which is lustrous non-metal:

a) Oxygen

b) Sulphur

c) Iodine

d) Nitrogen

3.Which of the non-metals is liquid at room temperature:

a) Helium

b) Carbon

c)Mercury

d)Bromine

4.Which among the following contain non-metal as its constituent:

a) Brass

b) Amalgam

c) Gunmetal

d) None

5.Non metal which is exceptionally good conductor of electricity:

a) Copper

b) Bromine

c) Zinc

d) Graphite

Question 5

On the basis of reactivity of different metals with oxygen, water and acids as well as displacement reactions, the
metals have been arranged in the decreasing order of their reactivities. This arrangement is known as activity
series or reactivity series of metals.
The basis of reactivity is the tendency of metals to lose electrons. If a metal can lose electrons easily to form
positive ions, it will react readily with other substances. Therefore, it will be a reactive metal. On the other hand,
if a meal loses electrons less rapidly to form a positive ion, it will react slowly with other substances. Therefore,
such a metal will be less reactive.

(i) Which of the following metals is less reactive than hydrogen?

(a) Copper

(b) Zinc

(c) Magnesium

(d) Lead

(ii) Which of the following metals is more reactive than hydrogen?

(a) Mercury

(b) Platinum

(c) Iron

(d) Gold

(iii) Which of the following metals reacts vigorously with oxygen?

(a) Zinc

(b) Magnesium

(c) Sodium

(d) Copper

Answer: (C)

(iv) Which of the following represents the correct order of reactivity for the given metals?

(a) Na > Mg > Al > Cu

(b) Mg > Na > Al > Cu

(c) Na > Mg > Cu > Al

(d) Mg > Al > Na > Cu

(v) Hydrogen gas is not evolved when a metal reacts with nitric acid. It is because HNO, is a strong oxidizing
agent. It oxidises the H, produced to water and itself gets reduced to any of the nitrogen oxides (N,O, NO,
NO2). But _____ and _____ react with very dilute HNO3 to evolve H2 gas.

(a) Pb, Cu

(b) Na, K

(C) Mg, Mn

(d) Al, Zn

Answer key