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CBSE · Class 10 · Science

Metals and Non-metals

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Show your working for Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
Which metal cannot displace lead from lead nitrate solution?
  1. copper
  2. aluminium
  3. zinc
  4. iron
2.
The electronic configuration of neon (atomic number 10) is:
  1. 2, 8, 1
  2. 10
  3. 2, 7
  4. 2, 8
3.
Which metal is a liquid at room temperature?
  1. iron
  2. aluminium
  3. sodium
  4. mercury
4.
The formula of the compound formed between aluminium and fluorine is:
  1. AlF3
  2. AlF2
  3. Al2F
  4. Al3F
5.
Which method is used to obtain zinc?
  1. electrolysis of its molten compound
  2. reduction of its oxide with carbon
  3. heating its sulphide ore in air
  4. dissolving its ore in water
6.
How does sodium react with water?
  1. It reacts with cold water, forming sodium hydroxide and hydrogen
  2. It does not react with water, even as steam
  3. It does not react with cold water but reacts with hot water, forming sodium hydroxide and hydrogen
  4. It reacts only with steam, forming sodium oxide and hydrogen
7.
An alloy of lead and tin is:
  1. solder
  2. duralumin
  3. an amalgam
  4. brass
8.
Assertion (A): Iron displaces magnesium from magnesium sulphate solution.
Reason (R): A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from a solution of its salt.
  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  3. A is true, but R is false.
  4. A is false, but R is true.
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
Will lead react with silver nitrate solution? If it does, write the balanced equation.
10.
Write the electronic configuration of argon (atomic number 18) and find its valency. Is it a metal, a non-metal or a noble gas?
11.
How many electrons does an atom of sodium (atomic number 11) lose or gain to form an ion? Write the ion and its electronic configuration.
12.
Why is sodium kept immersed in kerosene?
13.
Write the balanced equation for the reduction of chromium(III) oxide with aluminium.
14.
Write the balanced equation for burning carbon in oxygen. Is the oxide acidic, basic or amphoteric?
15.
Find the percentage of iron in Fe3O4, and the mass of iron in 200 kg of pure Fe3O4. (Atomic masses: O = 16 u, Fe = 56 u)
16.
Three metals P, Q and R are tested.
P does not displace Q from a solution of a salt of Q.
Q does not displace R from a solution of a salt of R.
Arrange P, Q and R in decreasing order of reactivity.
Section C — Word problems4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
How is zinc obtained from zinc blende (ZnS)? Write the equations.
18.
Describe, with balanced equations, how aluminium is obtained from alumina (from bauxite) (Al2O3). What mass of aluminium can be obtained from 20 kg of pure Al2O3? (Atomic masses: O = 16 u, Al = 27 u)
19.
Strips of aluminium are placed in solutions of copper sulphate, lead nitrate, silver nitrate. In which will a reaction take place? Write balanced equations for the reactions.
20.
Lithium (atomic number 3) reacts with nitrogen (atomic number 7). (a) Write their electronic configurations. (b) Show how the ions form by transfer of electrons. (c) Write the formula and name of the compound. (d) Give two properties of the compound.
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 10 · Science

Answer key

Metals and Non-metals · AW-10S-MNM-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(a) copperreactivity series: K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > H > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au
2(d) 2, 8shells K, L, M, N hold 2, 8, 8, … electrons
3(d) mercury—
4(a) AlF3Al3+ and F−: balance the charges
5(b) reduction of its oxide with carbonzinc is in the middle of the reactivity series
6(a) It reacts with cold water, forming sodium hydroxide and hydrogen—
7(a) solder—
8(d) A is false, but R is true.A is false: magnesium is above iron in the reactivity series, so iron cannot displace it. R is true.
9Yes: Pb + 2AgNO3 → Pb(NO3)2 + 2Aglead is above silver in the reactivity series
102, 8, 8; valency 0; a noble gasouter shell has 8 electrons
11Loses 1 electron; Na+; 2, 8atom: 2, 8, 1
12It reacts so vigorously with oxygen and water in the air that it catches fire; kerosene keeps air and moisture away.—
13Cr2O3 + 2Al → 2Cr + Al2O3—
14C + O2 → CO2; acidic—
1572.41%; 144.83 kg3 × 56 ÷ 232
16R > Q > Pa metal displaces only metals below it
17Roasting: 2ZnS + 3O2 → 2ZnO + 2SO2. Reduction with carbon: ZnO + C → Zn + CO.—
18Electrolysis of the molten oxide: 2Al2O3 → 4Al + 3O2. Mass of aluminium = 10.59 kg2 × 27 ÷ 102 × 20
19copper sulphate: 2Al + 3CuSO4 → Al2(SO4)3 + 3Cu; lead nitrate: 2Al + 3Pb(NO3)2 → 2Al(NO3)3 + 3Pb; silver nitrate: Al + 3AgNO3 → Al(NO3)3 + 3Agaluminium displaces only metals below it in the series
20(a) Li: 2, 1; N: 2, 5. (b) Li loses 1 electron → Li+ (2); N gains 3 → N3− (2, 8). (c) Li3N, lithium nitride. (d) It has a high melting point, and conducts electricity when molten or dissolved in water.—