What are the properties of metals and non-metals?

Metals are lustrous, malleable, ductile, and good conductors, whereas non-metals are brittle, non-lustrous and poor conductors.

What is the reactivity series?

The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged in decreasing order of their chemical reactivity.

Are these notes useful for competitive exams?

Yes, these notes help students prepare for NEET, SSC, Railway, Police Bharti exams as well as Class 10 board exams.

Metalsare elements that are generally lustrous, good conductors of heat and electricity, malleable and ductile, and usually solid at room temperature (except mercury).

2. What are non-metals?

Non-metalsare elements that are not lustrous, are poor conductors of heat and electricity (except graphite), and are brittle when solid. They may be gases, liquids (e.g., bromine) or solids.

5. Why are metals good conductors of electricity?

Metals have delocalised (free) electrons in a lattice of positive ions; these electrons move under an electric field, allowing conduction.

6. What is the reactivity series of metals?

Thereactivity seriesis an order of metals from most reactive to least reactive (e.g., K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu, Ag, Au). It predicts displacement reactions and extraction difficulty.

7. What happens when metals react with oxygen?

Metals form metal oxides. Reactive metals form basic oxides (e.g., 2Mg + O2→ 2MgO) and sometimes metal peroxides for very reactive metals.

8. How do non-metals react with oxygen?

Non-metals form covalent oxides. Example: C + O2→ CO2; sulphur forms SO2or SO3. These oxides can be acidic.

9. What is a displacement reaction between metals?

A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution. Example: Zn + CuSO4→ ZnSO4+ Cu.

12. What is concentration of ore (beneficiation)?

Concentrationremoves impurities (gangue) from ore. Methods include gravity separation, magnetic separation, and froth flotation depending on ore type.

13. What are roasting and calcination?

Roastinginvolves heating sulfide ores in presence of oxygen to convert to oxides (e.g., 2ZnS + 3O2→ 2ZnO + 2SO2).Calcinationheats carbonate ores in limited air to remove CO2(e.g., CaCO3→ CaO + CO2).

14. How are metals extracted from oxides (reduction)?

Metals are reduced from oxides using reducing agents (carbon, CO, H2) or by electrolytic reduction. For reactive metals (like Al), electrolytic reduction is used (Hall–Héroult process).

15. How is aluminium extracted (briefly)?

Bauxite is purified by the Bayer process to get alumina (Al2O3), then alumina is electrolysed (Hall–Héroult) in molten cryolite to obtain aluminium metal.

16. How is iron extracted in a blast furnace (brief)?

Hematite (Fe2O3) is reduced by CO in a blast furnace producing molten iron. Limestone acts as flux to remove impurities as slag.

17. What are common methods to refine metals?

Refining methods include electrolytic refining (e.g., copper), distillation (e.g., zinc), liquation, zone refining and chemical methods depending on metal and impurities.

19. What is corrosion and what causes it?

Corrosionis the deterioration of metals due to chemical reactions with the environment (e.g., rusting of iron due to O2and moisture; acid rain accelerates corrosion).

20. How can corrosion be prevented?

Methods: painting, oiling/greasing, galvanisation (zinc coating), electroplating, making alloys (stainless steel), sacrificial protection (using more reactive metals).

21. What is sacrificial protection?

Sacrificial protection uses a more reactive metal (e.g., zinc) connected to iron; the reactive metal corrodes preferentially, protecting the iron (used in cathodic protection).

22. What is electroplating and why is it used?

Electroplating deposits a metal coating on an object using electrolysis (e.g., silver plating of cutlery) for protection, decoration, or conductivity.

25. Why does copper not react with dilute hydrochloric acid?

Copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series, so it cannot displace hydrogen from dilute acids; thus no reaction occurs with dilute HCl.

27. What is zone refining (brief)?

Zone refining purifies metals by melting a small region (zone) and moving impurities along the bar to one end. Widely used for semiconductors and high-purity metals.

28. What is passivation?

Passivation is forming a protective oxide layer on a metal surface (e.g., chromium oxide on stainless steel) that prevents further corrosion.

Class 10 Science — Chapter 3: Metals & Non-metals

By RAAM SETU | NEET, SSC, Railway & Police Bharti Focused Notes 📘

📘 Introduction

This chapter explains Metals & Non-metals including properties, reactivity series, displacement reactions, corrosion, and uses. Essential for NEET, SSC, Railway, Police Bharti exams and Class 10 board exams.

🔹 Key Concepts

Properties of Metals: Lustrous, malleable, ductile, good conductors
Properties of Non-metals: Brittle, non-lustrous, poor conductors
Reactivity Series: Order of metals by reactivity
Displacement Reactions: A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal
Corrosion & Prevention: Rusting and methods to prevent it

📊 Chapter Summary Table

Concept	Example / Reaction	Use
Displacement	Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu	Determines reactivity
Corrosion	4Fe + 3O₂ + 6H₂O → 4Fe(OH)₃	Rusting of iron
Reactivity Series	K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu	Predict reactions

🧮 Practice Questions

What are the properties of metals and non-metals? ➡ Show Answer
Metals: lustrous, malleable, ductile, good conductors. Non-metals: brittle, non-lustrous, poor conductors.
Write a displacement reaction with example. ➡ Show Answer
Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu
Explain the reactivity series of metals. ➡ Show Answer
Order of metals from most reactive to least: K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu
How can corrosion of iron be prevented? ➡ Show Answer
Painting, galvanization, alloying with chromium or zinc coating.

Metals & Non-metals — 50 Q&A

NCERT Class 10 — Chapter 3. Tap to expand answers. Light / Dark toggle included.

Light / Dark

NCERT Class 10 — Chapter: Metals & Non-metals

📘 Introduction

🔹 Key Concepts

📊 Chapter Summary Table

🧮 Practice Questions

1. What are metals?

2. What are non-metals?

3. List major physical properties of metals.

4. List major physical properties of non-metals.

5. Why are metals good conductors of electricity?

6. What is the reactivity series of metals?

7. What happens when metals react with oxygen?

8. How do non-metals react with oxygen?

9. What is a displacement reaction between metals?

10. What are native metals? Give examples.

11. What is an ore? Give examples of important ores.

12. What is concentration of ore (beneficiation)?

13. What are roasting and calcination?

14. How are metals extracted from oxides (reduction)?

15. How is aluminium extracted (briefly)?

16. How is iron extracted in a blast furnace (brief)?

17. What are common methods to refine metals?

18. What is an alloy? Give examples and uses.

19. What is corrosion and what causes it?

20. How can corrosion be prevented?

21. What is sacrificial protection?

22. What is electroplating and why is it used?

23. How do metals react with water? Give examples.

24. How do metals react with dilute acids? Example with zinc.

25. Why does copper not react with dilute hydrochloric acid?

26. Give examples of metals that do not react easily with oxygen and why.

27. What is zone refining (brief)?

28. What is passivation?

29. What are amphoteric oxides? Give an example.

30. What makes stainless steel resistant to corrosion?

31. How does bonding differ in metals and non-metals?

32. Summarise chemical behaviour of metals with oxygen, water and acids.

33. Which metals can be reduced by carbon and why?

34. Mention key uses of aluminium and why it is important.

35. Why is copper widely used in electrical wiring?

36. What are uses and hazards of lead?

37. Why is graphite (a non-metal) a good conductor of electricity?

38. Describe chemical behaviour of non-metals with metals and oxygen.

39. What is a precipitation reaction involving metal salts? Give example.

40. How do you test for hydrogen produced when metal reacts with acid?

41. What is the composition and use of stainless steel?

42. Give a simple chemical test to distinguish a metal from a non-metal.

43. What is the role of flux in extraction of metals?

44. Mention environmental impacts of mining and metal extraction.

45. Why is recycling metals important?

46. List important lab safety rules while experimenting with metals and their compounds.

47. Give a few practice reactions to balance involving metals and non-metals.

48. How can you identify an ore in a sample (simple indicators)?

49. Quick revision points for the chapter (Metals & Non-metals)?

50. Study tips: how to remember this chapter effectively?