NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 4 Materials Metals and Non Metals

Author at PW
December 16, 2025
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Class 8 Science Chapter 4 Materials – Metals and Non-Metals

Class 8 Science Chapter 4, Materials Metals and Non-Metals, helps students understand the basic materials that play an important role in our daily life. This chapter explains what metals and non-metals are, how they are different, and why they are used for specific purposes. The topic materials metals and non metals is a core part of the NCERT syllabus and is often asked in exams.

In Class 8 Science Chapter 4, students learn about the physical properties of metals, such as lustre, hardness, malleability, ductility, and good conductivity of heat and electricity. This is why metals like iron, copper, and aluminium are widely used in construction, wires, utensils, and machines. On the other hand, non-metals generally lack these properties. They may be dull, brittle, and poor conductors. However, non-metals like oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon are equally important for life and industry.

The chapter also covers the chemical properties of metals and non-metals. Students study how metals react with oxygen, water, and acids, and why some metals corrode. Similarly, the reactions of non-metals are explained in a simple way. These concepts are clearly covered in metal and non metals class 8 lessons. To score well, students should practice metals and nonmetals class 8 questions and answers regularly. Referring to class 8 science chapter 4 question answer helps in understanding concepts better and writing accurate answers. The class 8 science ch 4 solutions also include diagrams, examples, and reasoning-based questions.

Overall, class 8 chapter 4 science builds a strong foundation for higher classes. Go through class 8 chapter 4 science question answer to revise effectively and gain confidence for exams.

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Class 8 Science Chapter 4 Question Answer PDF

Here, we offer NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 4 to make studying easier and more convenient for students. By providing these solutions in a downloadable PDF format, we ensure that students can access them anytime, even without an internet connection. These NCERT Solutions are designed to help students grasp the key concepts of Chapter 4 more effectively. 

Class 8 Science Chapter 4 Question Answer PDF

Class 8 Science Chapter 4 Question Answer

Check out the metals and non metals class 8 questions answers below:-

1. Which of the following can be beaten into thin sheets?

(a) Zinc

(b) Phosphorus

(c) Sulphur

(d) Oxygen

The answer is a) Zinc

In this case, zinc is a metal that is malleable and ductile, but phosphorus, sulphur, and oxygen are nonmetals that are not.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 1

2. Which of the following statements is correct?

(a) All metals are ductile.

(b) All non-metals are ductile.

(c) Generally, metals are ductile.

(d) Some non-metals are ductile.

The answer is (c) Generally, metals are ductile.

The ability of a material to condense into thin wires is known as ductility. Mercury is the exception to the rule that metals are ductile.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 2

3. Fill in the blanks.

(a) Phosphorus is a very _________non-metal.

(b) Metals are _________ conductors of heat and ____________ .

(c) Iron is ____________reactive than copper.

(d) Metals react with acids to produce ____________ gas.

(a) Phosphorus is a very reactive non-metal.

(b) Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity.

(c) Iron is more reactive than copper.

(d) Metals react with acids to produce hydrogen gas.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 3

4. Mark ‘T’ if the statement is true and ‘F’ if it is false.

(a) Generally, non-metals react with acids. ( )

(b) Sodium is a very reactive metal. ( )

(c) Copper displaces zinc from zinc sulphate solution. ( )

(d) Coal can be drawn into wires. ( )

a) False

b) True

c) False

d) False

6. Give reasons for the following.

(a) Aluminium foils are used to wrap food items.

(b) Immersion rods for heating liquids are made up of metallic substances.

(c) Copper cannot displace zinc from its salt solution.

(d) Sodium and potassium are stored in kerosene

a) Food items are wrapped in aluminium foil because aluminium is pliable and can be formed into thin sheets.

b) Metal is used to make immersion rods for heating liquids since it is a good heat and electrical conductor.

c) Zinc is more reactive than copper, hence zinc cannot be removed from its salt solution by copper.

d) Because sodium and potassium are extremely reactive metals that easily catch fire when they come into contact with oxygen in the atmosphere, they are kept in kerosene.

7. Can you store lemon pickles in an aluminium utensil? Explain.

Pickles contain acids that react with aluminium to create hydrogen and salt. As a result, pickles are not kept in aluminium cookware.

8. Match the substances given in Column A with their uses given in Column B.

A

B

(i) Gold

(a) Thermometers

(ii) Iron

(b) Electric wire

(iii) Aluminium

(c) Wrapping food

(iv) Carbon

(d) Jewellery

(v) Copper

(e) Machinery

(vi) Mercury

(f) Fuel

Solution – 

A

B

(i) Gold

(d) Jewellery

(ii) Iron

(e) Machinery

(iii) Aluminium

(c) Wrapping food

(iv) Carbon

(f) Fuel

(v) Copper

(b) Electric wire

(vi) Mercury

(a) Thermometers

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9. What happens when

(a) Dilute sulphuric acid is poured on a copper plate.

(b) Iron nails are placed in a copper sulphate solution?

Write word equations of the reactions involved.

10. Saloni took a piece of burning charcoal and collected the gas evolved in a test tube.

(a) How will she find the nature of the gas?

(b) Write down word equations of all the reactions taking place in this process.

Solution:

a) Put a few drops of water into a test tube that is filled with gas. Shut off the test tube and give it a good shake. Use blue litmus to test the fluid after shaking. It will turn red instead of blue. As a result, gas is naturally acidic.

b) Carbon dioxide gas is created when charcoal and oxygen combine.

Reaction of charcoal with Oxygen

11. One day Reeta went to a jeweller’s shop with her mother. Her mother gave old gold jewellery to the goldsmith to polish. The next day when they brought the jewellery back, they found that there was a slight loss in its weight. Can you suggest a reason for the loss in weight?

The gold ornament needs to be immersed into a solution known as aqua regia, which is a solution made of hydrochloric and nitric acids, to polish it. The exterior coating of gold melts when submerged in aqua regia, revealing an inner, glossy layer. The jewellery loses weight as a result of the coating melting.

Class 8 Science Chapter 4 Summary

Introduction to Metals and Non-Metals:

  • Metals and non-metals are two distinct categories of elements with different properties. Metals include substances like iron, copper, and gold, while non-metals encompass elements such as oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

Physical Properties:

  • Metals: They are generally shiny (lustrous), malleable (can be hammered into thin sheets), ductile (can be drawn into wires), and good conductors of heat and electricity. Most metals are solid at room temperature, with mercury being a notable exception.

  • Non-Metals: These elements usually have a dull appearance, are brittle when solid (break easily when hammered), and are poor conductors of heat and electricity. Non-metals can be found in different states—solid, liquid, or gas—at room temperature.

Chemical Properties:

  • Reactions with Oxygen: Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides (e.g., iron oxide), whereas non-metals form non-metal oxides (e.g., carbon dioxide).

  • Reactions with Water: Metals react with water to produce metal hydroxides and release hydrogen gas (e.g., sodium reacts with water). Non-metals generally do not react with water.

  • Reactions with Acids and Bases: Metals react with acids to produce salt and hydrogen gas (e.g., zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid). Non-metals do not react with acids in the same way but may react with bases to form salts (e.g., sulfur dioxide with sodium hydroxide).

Uses and Applications:

  • Metals: They are used in various applications including construction (e.g., iron in buildings, aluminium in airplanes), electronics (e.g., copper in wires), and machinery.

  • Non-Metals: They are vital for life and industry, such as oxygen for respiration, phosphorus in fertilizers, and sulfur in various chemical processes.

Check out: PW Experiment Kits

Class 8 Science Chapter 4 FAQs

Q1. What are metals and non-metals?

Ans. Metals are elements that are typically shiny, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. Examples include iron, copper, and gold. Non-metals, on the other hand, are generally dull, brittle when solid, and poor conductors of heat and electricity. Examples include sulfur, phosphorus, and oxygen.

Q2. What are the key physical properties of metals?

Ans. Metals are usually shiny (lustrous), can be hammered into thin sheets (malleable), drawn into wires (ductile), and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Most metals are solid at room temperature, with mercury being an exception.

Q3. What are the key physical properties of non-metals?

Ans. Non-metals typically have a dull appearance, are brittle when solid, and are poor conductors of heat and electricity. They can exist in various states at room temperature—solid, liquid, or gas.

Q4. How do metals react with oxygen?

Ans. Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides. For example, iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide (rust).

Q5. How do non-metals react with oxygen?

Ans. Non-metals react with oxygen to form non-metal oxides. For example, carbon reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.

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