NCERT Solutions Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Meals and Non-Metals

Author at PW
April 10, 2025

NCERT Solutions Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Meals and Non-Metals: Ch 3 Science Metals and Non Metals Class 10 is one of the most important chapters for the CBSE board exam. CBSE board class 10 question paper includes various questions from the chapter Metals and Non Metals Class 10. The faculty of Physics Wallah have developed class 10 Science chapter 3 question answer to help the students to understand the chapter Mental and Non Metals class 10 very well. Candidates can check the Science Chapter 3 Class 10 Question Answer in this article below. 

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Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Question Answer

Candidates can check the Science Chapter 3 Class 10 Question Answer below

1. Give an example of metal which

(i)   is a liquid at room temperature.

(ii)  can be easily cut with knife.

(iii) is best conductor of heat.

(iv) is poor conductor of heat.

Solution :

(i) Mercury

(ii) Sodium

(iii) Silver

(iv) Lead

2. Explain the meaning of malleable and ductile.

Solution : A substance that can be beaten into thin sheets is said to be malleable. For example, iron, copper etc. A substance that can be drawn into wires is called ductile. For example, gold, silver etc.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 2

3. Why is sodium kept immersed in kerosene oil?

Solution : Sodium reacts so vigorously with oxygen that it catches fire when kept in the opens. Hence, to protect accidental fires, it is kept immersed in kerosene oil.

4. Write equation for the reaction of

(i) Iron with steam

(ii) Calcium and potassium with water

Solution :

chapter 3-Metals and Non-metals/image001.png

5. Samples of four metals A, B, C and D were taken and added to the following solution one by one. The results obtained have been tabulated as follows :

chapter 3-Metals and Non-metals/image002.png

Use the table given above to answer the f0llowing questions about metals A,B,C and D.

(i) Which is the most reactive metal?

(ii) What would you observe if B is added to a solution of Copper(II) sulphate?

(iii) Arrange the metals A, B,C and D in order of decreasing reactivity.

Solution :

(i) B is the most reactive metal

(ii)If B is added to a solution of copper (II) sulphate, displacement reaction will take place. Blue colour of copper sulphate will fade and red –brown copper will settle down.

(iii) The decreasing order of reactivity is:

B> A> C >D

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 6

6. Which gas is produced when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to reactive metal?

Solution : Hydrogen gas is evolved when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to a reactive metal. When iron  reacts with dilute  H2SO4, iron (II) sulphate with the evolution of hydrogen gas is formed.

Fe(s) + H2SO4(aq) → FeSO4(aq) + H2(g)

7. What would you observe when zinc is added to a solution of iron(II) sulphate? Write the chemical reaction that takes place.

Solution : As zinc is more reactive than iron, displacement reaction will take place

chapter 3-Metals and Non-metals/image004.png

8. (i) Write the electro-dot structures for sodium, oxygen, and magnesium.

(ii) Show the formation of Na2O and MgO by the transfer of electrons.

(iii) What are the ions present in these compounds?

Solution :

(i) Electron-dot structure for sodium, oxygen and magnesium are

(ii)

chapter 3-Metals and Non-metals/image006.png

(iii) Ions present in Na2O are Na+ and O2-

Ions present in MgO are Mg2+ and O2-

9. Why do ionic compounds have high melting points?

Solution : There are strong forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions in ionic compounds. Considerable amount of energy is required to break strong inter-ionic force of attraction. Therefore, they have high melting points.

10. Define the following terms :

(i) Minerals

(ii) Ores and

(iii) Gangue

Solution :

(i) Minerals- the element or compounds which occur naturally in the earth crest are known as minerals.

(ii) Ores- Minerals from which metal can be extracted profitably and easily are called ores.

(iii) Gangue- Impurities such as soil and sand which are present in the minerals are called gangue.

11. Name two metals which are found in nature in the free state.

Solution : Gold and Platinum

12. What chemical process is used for obtaining a metal from its oxide?

Solution : A metal is obtained from its oxide by the process of reduction.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 7

13. Metallic oxide of zinc, magnesium and copper were heated with following metals :

chapter 3-Metals and Non-metals/image007.png

In which case will you find displacement reactions tking place?

Solution : Based on the activity series of metals, the displacement reactions will take place as below:

chapter 3-Metals and Non-metals/image008.png

14. Which metals do not corrode easily?

Solution : Metals which are placed at the bottom of activity series like silver, gold, platinum do not corrode easily.

15. What are alloys?

Solution: An alloy is homogenous mixture of two or more metals or metal and non-metal. It is obtained by first melting primary metal and then dissolving the other element in it in definite proportion.

16. Which of the following pairs will give displacement reactions?

(a) NaCl solution and copper metal

(b) MgCl2 solution and aluminum

(c) FeSO4 solution and silver metal

(d) AgNO3 solution and copper

Solution : (d) AgNO3 solution and copper

17. Which of the following method is suitable for preventing an iron fry pan from rusting?

(a) Applying grease

(b) applying paint

(c) Applying coating of zinc

(d) All of the above

Solution : (c) Applying coating of zinc

18. An element reacts with oxygen to give a compound with a high melting point. This compound is also soluble in water. The element is likely to be

(a) Calcium

(b) Carbon

(c) Silicon

(d) Iron

Solution : (a) Calcium

Check out: CBSE Class 10th Sample Papers

19. Food cans are coated with tin and not zinc because

(a) Zinc is costlier than tin

(b) Zinc has higher melting point

(c) Zinc is more reactive than tin

(d) Zinc is less reactive than tin

Solution : (c) Zinc is more reactive than tin

20. You are given a hammer, a battery, a bulb, wires and switch.

(a) How could you use them to distinguish between samples of metals and non-metals?

(b) Asses the usefulness of these tests in distinguishing between metals and non-metals?

Solution :

(a) Place the sample on an iron block. Strike with hammer. If the sample takes the shape of a sheet, it is a metal. If it breaks into pieces, it is a non-metal.

Set up the arrangement by using a bulb, a battery, wires and switch. Insert the samples of metals and non-metals in the clips one by one and turn the switch on. If the bulb glows, the sample is a metal, if not, then the sample is non-metal.

(b)The above two methods can, in general, be used to distinguish between metals and non-metals.

21. What are amphoteric oxides? Give two examples of amphoteric oxides.

Solution : Metal oxides which show both acidic as well as basic behavior are called amphoteric oxides. Such metal oxides react with both acids and bases.

Example: Aluminum oxide, zinc oxide

22. Name two metals which will displace hydrogen from dilute acids, and two metals which will not.

Solution : Magnesium and zinc metals displace hydrogen from dilute acids. Copper and silver do not displace hydrogen from dilute acids.

23. In the electrolytic refining of a metal M, what would you take as the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte?

Solution : Impure metal M is made the anode, thin strips of pure metal M as cathode and a salt solution of metal M as electrolyte.

24. Pratyush took Sulpher powder on spatula and heated it. He collected the gas evolved by inverting a test tube over it as shown in fig. 3.12 below :

(a) What will be the action of gas on

(i) Dry litmus paper?        

(ii) Moist litmus paper?

(b)Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction taking place.

Solution :

(a) Sulphur is a non-metal. Oxides of non-metals are acidic. In this case sulphur dioxide is produced which is acidic.

(i) No action of the gas

(ii) wet litmus paper will turn red.

chapter 3-Metals and Non-metals/image010.png

25. State two ways to prevent the rusting of iron.

Solution : Rusting of iron can be prevented by

(i) By applying grease or paint.

(ii) By galvanizing

26. What types of oxides are formed when non-metals combine with oxygen?

Solution : Acidic oxides are formed when non-metals combine with oxygen.

27. Give reasons :

(a) Platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery.

(b) Sodium, potassium and lithium are stored under oil.

(c) Aluminum is highly reactive metal, yet it is used to make utensils for cooking.

(d) Carbonate and sulphides ores are usually converted into oxides during the process of extraction.

Solution :

(a) These metals are un-reactive. They do not react with oxygen and other gases present in air and with moisture. Thus, their shine is maintained. That is why these metals are used to make jewellery.

(b) Reaction of sodium, potassium and lithium with oxygen is so violent that they catch fire. To prevent accidental fire, they are stored under kerosene oil.

(c) This is because aluminum is a good conductor of heat. Aluminum forms a layer of aluminum oxide at high temperature which is prevent the further corrosion.

(d) It is easier to reduce oxide than the carbonates and sulphide to the metals.

28. You must have seen tarnished copper vessels being cleaned with lemon or tamarind juice. Explain why these sour substances are effective in cleaning the vessels.

Solution : Copper, on keeping in air reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide to form a green layer of copper carbonate. Copper carbonate reacts with citric acid present in lemon or tartaric acid present in tamarind to form soluble copper citrate or copper tartarate. The vessels are thus cleaned using water.

Check out: CBSE Class 10th Question Banks

29. Differentiate between metal and non-metal on the basis of their chemical properties.

Solution : Metals and non-metals can be differentiated on the basis of following chemical properties.

30. A man went door to door posing as a goldsmith. He promised to bring back the glitter of the old and dull ornaments. An unsuspecting lady gave a set of gold bangles to him which he dipped in a particular solution. The bangles sparkled like new but their weight was reduced drastically. The lady was upset but after a futile argument the man beat a hasty retreat. Can you play the detective to find out the nature of the solution he had used?

Solution : Aqua regia, which is a mixture of 3 parts concentrated HCl and part of concentrated nitric acid dissolves gold. The man put the gold bangles in this solution. The outer dirty layer of gold bangles dissolved in aqua regia bring out the shining bangles.
As the outer layer of bangles dissolved in aqua regia, the weight was reduced drastically.

31. Give reasons, why copper is used to make hot water tanks and not steel (an alloy of iron).

Solution : Electrical conductivity of a metal is decreased when it is alloyed with another metal or non-metal. Thus, the electrical conductivity of steel is much less than that of pure. That is why copper is used to make hot water tanks and not steel.

Metals and Non Metals Class 10 Summary

In Chapter 3: Metals and Non Metals class 10, students learn about the two major categories of elements: metals and non-metals, their properties, and how they react with other substances.

Metals are elements that are generally shiny, ductile (can be drawn into wires), malleable (can be hammered into sheets), and good conductors of heat and electricity. They are usually solid at room temperature, except mercury, which is liquid. Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides, which are often basic in nature. For example, when iron reacts with oxygen, it forms iron oxide (rust).

Non-metals, on the other hand, are usually dull, brittle, poor conductors of heat and electricity (except carbon in the form of graphite). Most non-metals are gases at room temperature, like oxygen and nitrogen. When non-metals react with oxygen, they form non-metal oxides, which are acidic in nature. For example, carbon dioxide is an acidic gas.

Reactivity of metals and non metals class 10: Metals typically react with acids to release hydrogen gas. Non-metals do not react with acids in the same way. Metals can displace non-metals from their compounds due to their higher reactivity.

The chapter also explains the properties of metal alloys like bronze and brass, which are mixtures of metals, and their uses in daily life.

In conclusion, understanding the properties and reactions of metals and non-metals is important for various applications in chemistry and real-life scenarios.

Check out: CBSE Class 10th Previous Year Papers

Science Chapter 3 Class 10 Question Answer  FAQs

Q1. What are the main differences between metals and non-metals?

Ans. Metals are generally shiny, ductile, malleable, and good conductors of heat and electricity. Non-metals are usually dull, brittle, poor conductors of heat and electricity (except graphite), and mostly gases at room temperature.

Q2. What happens when non-metals react with oxygen?

Ans. Non-metals react with oxygen to form non-metal oxides, which are usually acidic in nature. For example, carbon dioxide, when dissolved in water, forms carbonic acid.

Q3. What is the difference between metal oxides and non-metal oxides?

Ans. Metal oxides are generally basic in nature (e.g., sodium oxide), while non-metal oxides are usually acidic in nature (e.g., carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide).

Q4. What is the role of metals in our daily life?

Ans. Metals play a crucial role in daily life, including the use of iron for construction, aluminum for cooking utensils, copper for electrical wiring, and gold for jewelry.

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