METALS & NON-METALS

1. What are pure substances? Give examples.

The materials made up of the same kind of particles are known as pure
substances.
2. Why elements differ from each other in their physical and
chemical properties?
The elements differ from each other in the physical and chemical
properties as different elements consist of atoms of different kinds.
3. What is classification of elements and on what basis elements
are classified?
The elements showing similar properties are grouped together and
their general characteristics are studied. This is known as classification
of elements. They are classified on the basis of Physical and Chemical
Properties as Metals and Non Metals.
4. Name few reactive and lesser reactive metals.
Reactive Potassium, Sodium. Less Reactive Gold, Silver, Platinum.
5. Name two non-metals which exist in Free State as well as in
combined state.
Oxygen and Nitrogen exist in Free State as well as in combined state in
the form of compounds like oxides and nitrates.
6. Write difference between mineral and ore.
A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic substance found deep
under the earth whereas an ore is a mineral from which one or more
metals can be extracted profitably.
7. What is metallurgy? Explain its steps.
The sequence of processes used to extract a metal in its pure form
from its ore is known as metallurgy. It generally involves the following
steps
1) Concentration of Ore The process of removal of impurities from
ore.
2) Reduction The process of reducing a metal ore to get the metal in
its free state.
3) Refining of Metal The metal obtained by reduction is impure. The
process of purification of metals is known as refining.
8. Compare metals and non-metals on the basis of malleability,
tensile strength and ductility.
Malleability means beating into sheets. Metals are malleable. Nonmetals are not malleable (They are ductile).
Ductility means drawing into wires. Metals are ductile. Non-metals
are not.
Tensile Strength is the property due to which a substance can bear a
lot of strain without breaking. Metals have high tensile strength. Nonmetals have low tensile strength except carbon fiber.
9. Name a non-metal which has a luster?
Iodine
10.
Why copper and iron are used for making cooking utensils
and water boilers?
Copper and Iron are good conductors of heat. They are good thermal
conductors. It is due to this property that they are used for making
utensils and water boilers.
11.
Why copper wires are used for electrical fittings?
Copper Wires are good conductors of electricity. It is due to this
property that they are used in electrical fittings.
12.
Why graphite is used in batteries?
Most of the non-metals are bad conductors. But Graphite (A form of
Carbon) is an exception. It is a good conductor and is used in batteries.
13.
What are metalloids? Give few examples.
Those elements which show the property of both metals and nonmetals are called metalloids. For eg. Silicon, Germanium, Arsenic.
14.
Compare metals and non-metals on the basis of any three
chemical properties.

1) Reaction with oxygen Metals react with oxygen to form metal

oxides which are basic in nature.
Mg + O2 MgO
Non-metals react with oxygen to form basic oxides which are acidic.
C + O2 CO2
CO2 + H2O H2CO3
2) Reaction with Water Metals differ in their reactivity towards water.
Sodium and potassium are highly reactive. Magnesium does not
react with cold water but react on heating. Zinc reacts with boiling
water and Iron reacts with steam. Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum
does not react with water at all.
MgO + H2O Mg(OH)2 + H2
Non-Metals do not react with water.
3) Reaction with Acids Most metals react with dilute Hydrochloric
Acid to liberate hydrogen gas and form metal salts. Some metals
like Copper and lead do not react with HCl. They react with sulphuric
acid and nitric acid but do not liberate hydrogen gas. Metals like
Gold and Platinum do not react with acids.
Non-Metals generally do not react with acids. But Sulphur and
Phosphorus react with hot, concentrated Sulphuric Acid and nitric
acid.
15.
A metal is ignited and it burns with a bright white light
and forms a white powder. The powder dissolves in water
forming an alkaline solution. Identify the metal. Write the two
chemical reactions involved.
The metal is Magnesium. The reactions involved are
Mg + O2 MgO
MgO + H2O Mg(OH)2
16.
Write an activity to show that non- metals react with
oxygen to form non-metallic oxides which are acidic in nature.
Take a small piece of charcoal on a spoon and ignite it. Put the spoon is
a jar and cover it with a lid. Remove the spoon after some time. Add
water in the jar and cover it again. Mix the contents in the jar by
shaking it. Now pour the solution in a watch glass and put a strip of
blue litmus paper. The blue litmus paper turns red indicating that it is
an acid.
C + O2 CO2
CO2 + H2O H2CO3
Thus non-metallic oxides are acidic in nature.
17.
Compare the reactivity of the following metals on the
basis of their reactivity towards water. Zinc, Sodium, Iron,
Potassium, Magnesium
Sodium and potassium are highly reactive. Magnesium does not react
with cold water but react on heating. Zinc reacts with boiling water and
Iron reacts with steam.
18.
Why phosphorous is kept in water?
Phosphorus is kept in water to prevent its contact with air, as it catches
fire on reaction with air.
19.
Write balanced chemical equation for the following Magnesium reacts with warm water
MgO + 2H2O Mg(OH)2 + H2
Zinc granules are added to dilute sulphuric acid
Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 +H2
Iron nails are dipped in dilute hydrochloric acid
Fe + 2HCl FeCl2 + H2
Magnesium ribbon is dipped in copper sulphate solution
Mg + CuSO4 MgSO4 + Cu
Copper wire is dipped in silver nitrate solution
Cu + AgNO3 CuNO3 + Ag
20.
What is reactivity of metals and reactivity series?

The tendency of an element to react with other substances to form

compounds is known as reactivity. The series of metals arranged in the
order of their decreasing reactivity is called the reactivity series.
21.
Name the most and least reactive metal?
Most reactive Potassium. Least Reactive Platinum
22.
What are displacement reactions? Explain with the help
of an example.
A reaction in which a more reactive metal displaces a lesser reactive
metal from the aqueous solution of its salt is a displacement reaction.
For example
Mg + CuSO4 MgSO4 + Cu
23.
What are noble metals? Give examples.
Metals which are least reactive are called noble metals. For eg. Gold
and Platinum.
24.
Why pure gold cannot be used for making jewellery?
Pure Gold is very soft. Therefore, it cannot be used to make jewellery in
this form. For this purpose, it is mixed with silver and copper to make it
hard.
25.
What is a carat?
The purity of gold is expressed in carats or karats. A carat means the
number of parts of gold present in 24 parts of the mixture of gold and
other metals.
26.
Give two uses of following metals Gold It is used in making jewellery and electroplating other
metals like copper and silver.
Platinum It is used in making dentistry and in making
scientific instruments. It is also used in making jewellery.
Iron It is the most widely used metal. It is used in making
cooking utensils, water boilers, stoves, toys, tools, pipes etc.
Aluminium Being very light, it is used in making air craft
bodies. It is also used in making cooking utensils and thin foils for
packaging.
Copper It is mostly used in making electrical cables and other
electrical good. It is also used in making cooking utensils.
Silver It is used for making jewellery, decorative pieces etc. It
can also be converted into thin foil and used for decorating food
stuffs. Gold and Silver wires are also used for high precision
electrical contacts in computers.
27.
What are alloys? Why are alloys made?
An alloy is a homogenous mixture of two or more metals or a metal
and a non-metal. Alloys are generally stronger and harder and are
resistant to corrosion.
28.
Write composition and uses of the following alloys Steel Iron + Carbon. Construction material, machine parts.
Stainless steel Iron + Nickel + Chromium. Making utensils,
cutlery, and surgical implements.
Brass Copper + Zinc. Making utensils, decorative statues,
nuts and bolts.
Bronze Copper + Tin. Making utensils, Coins, Medals and
Statues.
German silver Copper + Zinc + Nickel. Making table ware.
Duralumin Aluminum + Copper + Magnesium + Manganese.
Making air craft bodies and automobile parts.
Alnico Aluminum + Nickel + Cobalt. Making magnets.
Gun-metal Copper + Tin + Zinc. For making Gun-barrels.
29.
Give one use of the following non-metal Nitrogen In the form of fertilisers, they are essential for the
growth of plants and seed.
Phosphorous It is used in matchbox industry and in
fertilisers.

Iodine Iodine is used as an antiseptic.

Sulphur It is used for making fire crackers, Gun powder and
Sulphuric Acid.
Oxygen It is essential for all living beings.
Carbon a) Diamond It is used in making jewellery and in
cutting and grinding tools.
b) Graphite It is used in batteries and in pencils.