Chapter 3 Metals and Non-metals
NCERT Class 10th
Science SOLUTIONS

A man went door to door posing as a goldsmith. He promised to bring back the glitter of old and dull gold 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?
The man used a strong acid (like aqua regia or a mixture of strong acids) to clean the gold bangles. This solution can dissolve impurities and dirt on the surface, making the bangles sparkle like new.
However, if the bangles were not pure gold but gold-plated or alloyed with cheaper metals, the acid would have dissolved some of the metal along with the impurities, reducing their weight drastically.
So, the solution used was an acid that can dissolve metals, which cleaned the bangles but also dissolved some of the metal, making them lighter.
This is why the bangles shined but lost weight.
Metals and Non-metals
More Questions on Metals and Non-metals
Give reasons why copper is used to make hot water tanks and not steel (an alloy of iron).
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Differentiate between metal and non-metal on the basis of their chemical properties.
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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.
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Give reasons (a) Platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery. (b) Sodium, potassium and lithium are stored under oil. (c) Aluminium is a highly reactive metal, yet it is used to make utensils for cooking. (d) Carbonate and sulphide ores are usually converted into oxides during the process of extraction.
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In the electrolytic refining of a metal M, what would you take as the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte?
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Name two metals which will displace hydrogen from dilute acids, and two metals which will not.
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You are given a hammer, a battery, a bulb, wires and a switch. (a) How could you use them to distinguish between samples of metals and non-metals? (b) Assess the usefulness of these tests in distinguishing between metals and non-metals.
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Food cans are coated with tin and not with zinc because (a) zinc is costlier than tin. (b) zinc has a higher melting point than tin. (c) zinc is more reactive than tin. (d) zinc is less reactive than tin.
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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.
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Which of the following methods is suitable for preventing an iron frying pan from rusting? (a) Applying grease (b) Applying paint (c) Applying a coating of zinc (d) All of the above
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Which of the following pairs will give displacement reactions? (a) NaCl solution and copper metal (b) MgCl₂ solution and aluminium metal (c) FeSO₄ solution and silver metal (d) AgNO₃ solution and copper metal
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What would you observe when zinc is added to a solution of iron(II) sulphate? Write the chemical reaction that takes place.
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Which gas is produced when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to a reactive metal? Write the chemical reaction when iron reacts with dilute H₂SO₄.
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Write equations for the reactions of (i) iron with steam (ii) calcium and potassium with water
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Give an example of a metal which (i) is a liquid at room temperature. (ii) can be easily cut with a knife. (iii) is the best conductor of heat. (iv) is a poor conductor of heat.
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