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Class 10 · Science · Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals

BSEB Class 10 Science Chapter 3: Objective Questions (MCQ) with Answers

Bihar Board · NCERT · CBSE

All 63 objective questions (MCQ) of this chapter — solve first, then tap “Show answer”. Each question shows its source label: «BSEB 2025 · board paper» = verified from the official board paper; «Board-style (practice)» = Study With Me's own practice questions.

← Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals — full notes, questions

1Check

What is the shining surface of a pure metal called?

  1. (A) Malleability
  2. (B) Metallic lustre
  3. (C) Ductility
  4. (D) Sonority
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Correct answer: (B) Metallic lustre

The shining surface of a pure metal is called metallic lustre.

2Check

Sodium metal is kept under which liquid?

  1. (A) Water
  2. (B) Alcohol
  3. (C) Kerosene
  4. (D) Dilute HCl
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Correct answer: (C) Kerosene

Kerosene keeps sodium out of contact with air and water.

3Check

Beating a metal into a thin sheet is called what?

  1. (A) Ductility
  2. (B) Malleability
  3. (C) Sonority
  4. (D) Conductivity
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Correct answer: (B) Malleability

Beating into a sheet is malleability. Drawing a wire is ductility.

4Check

Which metal is the most ductile?

  1. (A) Iron
  2. (B) Copper
  3. (C) Gold
  4. (D) Lead
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Correct answer: (C) Gold

Gold is the most ductile. Gold and silver are also the most malleable.

5Check

Which metal is a liquid at room temperature?

  1. (A) Bromine
  2. (B) Mercury
  3. (C) Gallium is always liquid
  4. (D) Iodine
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Correct answer: (B) Mercury

Mercury is a liquid metal at room temperature. Bromine is a liquid non-metal.

6Check

Why is a school bell made of metal?

  1. (A) Metals are brittle
  2. (B) Metals are sonorous
  3. (C) Metals are insulators
  4. (D) Metals are liquids
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Correct answer: (B) Metals are sonorous

Metals are sonorous, so a bell is made of metal.

7Check

What does the aqueous ash of a magnesium ribbon do to litmus?

  1. (A) Blue litmus turns red
  2. (B) Red litmus turns blue
  3. (C) No change
  4. (D) Both become colourless
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Correct answer: (B) Red litmus turns blue

A base turns red litmus blue. MgO is basic.

8Check

Which oxide is amphoteric?

  1. (A) MgO
  2. (B) SO₂
  3. (C) Al₂O₃
  4. (D) Na₂O
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Correct answer: (C) Al₂O₃

Al₂O₃ and ZnO are amphoteric. MgO is only basic, SO₂ is acidic.

9Check

Which metal reacts with cold water so fast that the hydrogen catches fire?

  1. (A) Copper
  2. (B) Iron
  3. (C) Sodium
  4. (D) Silver
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Correct answer: (C) Sodium

Sodium and potassium react rapidly with cold water and the H₂ catches fire.

10Check

Which oxide does iron give when it reacts with water?

  1. (A) FeO, with cold water
  2. (B) Fe₂O₃, with hot water
  3. (C) Fe₃O₄, with steam
  4. (D) None
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Correct answer: (C) Fe₃O₄, with steam

3Fe + 4H₂O (steam) → Fe₃O₄ + 4H₂.

11Check

How is the gas from zinc and dilute HCl identified?

  1. (A) Lime water turns milky
  2. (B) A pop with a burning splint
  3. (C) It burns with a silent blue flame
  4. (D) No effect on moist litmus
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Correct answer: (B) A pop with a burning splint

H₂ gives a pop near a burning splint.

12Check

Which is the correct order of releasing hydrogen from a dilute acid?

  1. (A) Cu > Fe > Zn > Mg
  2. (B) Mg > Al > Zn > Fe
  3. (C) Fe > Mg > Cu > Al
  4. (D) Au > Ag > Cu > Zn
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Correct answer: (B) Mg > Al > Zn > Fe

Mg > Al > Zn > Fe. Copper is not in this list.

13Check

What happens when an iron nail is placed in CuSO₄ solution?

  1. (A) No change
  2. (B) The blue colour deepens
  3. (C) A red-brown coat forms and the blue fades
  4. (D) A pop of hydrogen
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Correct answer: (C) A red-brown coat forms and the blue fades

Fe displaces Cu from CuSO₄. The solution becomes pale green FeSO₄.

14Check

Which metal is the least reactive in the series?

  1. (A) Potassium
  2. (B) Iron
  3. (C) Copper
  4. (D) Gold
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Correct answer: (D) Gold

The series starts at K and ends at Au. Gold is the least reactive.

15Check

When sodium chloride forms, what does sodium become?

  1. (A) Cl⁻
  2. (B) Na⁺
  3. (C) Na⁻
  4. (D) Cl⁺
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Correct answer: (B) Na⁺

Sodium loses one electron and becomes Na⁺. Chlorine becomes Cl⁻.

16Check

Why does the bulb not glow in solid sodium chloride?

  1. (A) NaCl has no ions
  2. (B) The ions are there but cannot move
  3. (C) It is covalent
  4. (D) It is a non-metal
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Correct answer: (B) The ions are there but cannot move

In the solid the ions are fixed. On melting or dissolving they move and carry the current.

17Check

Heating a sulphide ore in plenty of air is called what?

  1. (A) Calcination
  2. (B) Roasting
  3. (C) Thermite
  4. (D) Electrolysis
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Correct answer: (B) Roasting

Roasting is heating a sulphide ore in plenty of air. Calcination is heating a carbonate in limited air.

18Check

In the electrolytic refining of copper, where does pure copper deposit?

  1. (A) On the anode
  2. (B) On the cathode
  3. (C) In the anode mud
  4. (D) It stays only in the solution
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Correct answer: (B) On the cathode

Pure copper deposits on the cathode. Insoluble impurity becomes anode mud.

19Check

Which metals are mainly mixed with iron in stainless steel?

  1. (A) Copper and tin
  2. (B) Nickel and chromium
  3. (C) Lead and tin
  4. (D) Only zinc
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Correct answer: (B) Nickel and chromium

Stainless steel contains iron, carbon, nickel and chromium.

20BSEB 2025 · board paper · Q30 · page 121 mark

Which of the following gases is formed when zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid?

  1. (A) N2
  2. (B) H2
  3. (C) SO2
  4. (D) CO2
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Correct answer: (B) H2

Metal + dilute acid → salt + hydrogen (lesson 7).

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)
21BSEB 2025 · board paper · Q36 · page 141 mark

An ore of zinc is—

  1. (A) Bauxite
  2. (B) Sodium chloride
  3. (C) Cinnabar
  4. (D) Zinc blende
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Correct answer: (D) Zinc blende

Zinc blende (ZnS) is the sulphide ore of zinc; it is roasted to ZnO. Bauxite = aluminium, cinnabar = mercury.

22BSEB 2025 · board paper · Q37 · page 141 mark

The metal which dissolves only in aqua regia is—

  1. (A) Fe
  2. (B) Cu
  3. (C) Au
  4. (D) Al
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Correct answer: (C) Au

Aqua regia = conc. HCl : conc. HNO₃ = 3 : 1. It dissolves gold (Au) and platinum, which neither acid can do alone.

23BSEB 2025 · board paper · Q38 · page 141 mark

Which of the following is not an ionic compound?

  1. (A) CaCl2
  2. (B) CO
  3. (C) KCl
  4. (D) HCN
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Correct answer: (B) CO

CaCl₂ and KCl are ionic (metal + non-metal). In CO both are non-metals — electrons are shared, no ions form. Note: HCN is not ionic either; two options look correct in the paper, so we have taken the most direct answer, (b) CO.

24BSEB 2025 · board paper · Q40 · page 151 mark

The hardest natural substance is—

  1. (A) Iron
  2. (B) Gold
  3. (C) Silver
  4. (D) Diamond
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Correct answer: (D) Diamond

Diamond, an allotrope of carbon, is the hardest natural substance, with very high melting and boiling points (lesson 3, exceptions to Table 3.1).

25BSEB 2025 · board paper · Q50 · page 171 mark

Which of the following are electronegative?

  1. (A) Non-metals
  2. (B) Metals
  3. (C) Alloy
  4. (D) None of these
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Correct answer: (A) Non-metals

Non-metals gain electrons to form anions — electronegative. Metals lose electrons to form cations — electropositive.

26BSEB model paper 2026 (not the annual exam) · Q28 · page 111 mark

Which of the following pairs represents a single displacement reaction?

  1. (A) NaCl solution and copper metal
  2. (B) MgCl2
  3. (C) FeSO4
  4. (D) AgNO3
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Correct answer: (D) AgNO3

Copper is more reactive than silver, so it displaces Ag. In the other pairs the metal is less reactive.

Cu(s) + 2AgNO3(aq) → Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2Ag(s)
27BSEB model paper 2026 (not the annual exam) · Q40 · page 141 mark

Cuprite is an ore of which of the following metals?

  1. (A) Hg
  2. (B) Zn
  3. (C) Cu
  4. (D) Al
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Correct answer: (C) Cu

Cuprite = Cu₂O, an oxide ore of copper.

28BSEB model paper 2026 (not the annual exam) · Q51 · page 171 mark

Which of the elements shown by these symbols (mass number/atomic number) is a metal?

  1. (A) A (19/9)
  2. (B) B (24/12)
  3. (C) C (12/6)
  4. (D) D (16/8)
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Correct answer: (B) B (24/12)

Atomic number 12 = magnesium (2,8,2) — 2 outer electrons, a metal. 9 = fluorine, 6 = carbon, 8 = oxygen — non-metals.

29Book-based · 3.1.1 · page 381 mark

Which is the most ductile metal?

  1. (A) Silver
  2. (B) Copper
  3. (C) Gold
  4. (D) Aluminium
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Correct answer: (C) Gold

Book: «Gold is the most ductile metal» — about 2 km of wire from 1 g.

30Book-based · 3.1.2 · page 401 mark

Which metals melt if kept on your palm?

  1. (A) Sodium and potassium
  2. (B) Gallium and caesium
  3. (C) Mercury and lead
  4. (D) Zinc and tin
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Correct answer: (B) Gallium and caesium

Gallium and caesium have very low melting points.

31Book-based · 3.1.2 · page 401 mark

Which non-metal is lustrous?

  1. (A) Sulphur
  2. (B) Carbon
  3. (C) Iodine
  4. (D) Phosphorus
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Correct answer: (C) Iodine

Iodine is a non-metal but lustrous — an exception to Table 3.1.

32Book-based · 3.2.1 · page 411 mark

The formula of sodium aluminate is—

  1. (A) NaAl2
  2. (B) NaAlO2
  3. (C) Na2AlO3
  4. (D) AlNaO
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Correct answer: (B) NaAlO2

Al2O3 + 2NaOH → 2NaAlO2 + H2O

33Book-based · 3.2.2 · page 431 mark

Which oxide forms when iron reacts with steam?

  1. (A) FeO
  2. (B) Fe2O3
  3. (C) Fe3O4
  4. (D) Fe(OH)3
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Correct answer: (C) Fe3O4

3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) → Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g)

34Book-based · 3.2.3 · page 441 mark

Metals that give H₂ with very dilute HNO₃ are—

  1. (A) Cu and Ag
  2. (B) Mg and Mn
  3. (C) Fe and Zn
  4. (D) Na and K
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Correct answer: (B) Mg and Mn

HNO₃ is a strong oxidising agent; only Mg and Mn give H₂ with very dilute HNO₃.

35Book-based · 3.2.3 · page 441 mark

In aqua regia, conc. HCl and conc. HNO₃ are in the ratio—

  1. (A) 1 : 3
  2. (B) 3 : 1
  3. (C) 1 : 1
  4. (D) 2 : 1
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Correct answer: (B) 3 : 1

Aqua regia = freshly made 3 parts conc. HCl + 1 part conc. HNO₃.

36Book-based · 3.4.4 · page 521 mark

The thermit reaction is used for—

  1. (A) refining copper
  2. (B) joining railway tracks
  3. (C) preventing rust
  4. (D) extracting sodium
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Correct answer: (B) joining railway tracks

Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s) → 2Fe(l) + Al2O3(s) + heat — molten iron joins tracks and cracked machine parts.

37Book-based · 3.4.6 · page 521 mark

In the electrolytic refining of copper, the cathode is—

  1. (A) impure copper
  2. (B) a thin strip of pure copper
  3. (C) graphite
  4. (D) zinc
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Correct answer: (B) a thin strip of pure copper

Impure copper = anode; thin strip of pure copper = cathode; electrolyte = acidified CuSO₄.

38Book-based · 3.5.1 · page 541 mark

An amalgam is an alloy in which one metal is—

  1. (A) copper
  2. (B) lead
  3. (C) mercury
  4. (D) tin
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Correct answer: (C) mercury

Book: «If one of the metals is mercury, the alloy is known as an amalgam».

39NCERT exercise · Q11 mark

Which of the following pairs will give displacement reactions?

  1. (A) NaCl solution and copper metal
  2. (B) MgCl2
  3. (C) FeSO4
  4. (D) AgNO3
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Correct answer: (D) AgNO3

Cu is more reactive than Ag: Cu(s) + 2AgNO3(aq) → Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2Ag(s). Al is less reactive than Mg, so (b) does not react.

40NCERT exercise · Q21 mark

Which method is suitable for preventing an iron frying pan from rusting?

  1. (A) Applying grease
  2. (B) Applying paint
  3. (C) Applying a coating of zinc
  4. (D) All of the above
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Correct answer: (D) All of the above

All three keep air and moisture away from iron, so all of the above.

41NCERT exercise · Q31 mark

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

  1. (A) calcium
  2. (B) carbon
  3. (C) silicon
  4. (D) iron
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Correct answer: (A) calcium

CaO is ionic — m.p. 2850 K — and dissolves in water to give Ca(OH)₂. Carbon/silicon are non-metals; iron oxide does not dissolve in water.

42NCERT exercise · Q41 mark

Food cans are coated with tin and not with zinc because

  1. (A) zinc is costlier than tin
  2. (B) zinc has a higher melting point than tin
  3. (C) zinc is more reactive than tin
  4. (D) zinc is less reactive than tin
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Correct answer: (C) zinc is more reactive than tin

Zinc is more reactive, so it could react with acids in food and form harmful compounds. Tin is less reactive.

43Board-style (practice)1 mark

What is metallic lustre?

  1. (A) Being beaten into a sheet
  2. (B) The shining surface of a pure metal
  3. (C) Being drawn into a wire
  4. (D) A sound on striking
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Correct answer: (B) The shining surface of a pure metal

The shining surface of a pure metal is called metallic lustre.

44Board-style (practice)1 mark

Which metal is the most ductile?

  1. (A) Iron
  2. (B) Copper
  3. (C) Gold
  4. (D) Lead
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Correct answer: (C) Gold

Gold is the most ductile.

45Board-style (practice)1 mark

The metal that is liquid at room temperature is —

  1. (A) Bromine
  2. (B) Mercury
  3. (C) Iodine
  4. (D) Graphite
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Correct answer: (B) Mercury

Mercury is a liquid metal. Bromine is a liquid non-metal.

46Board-style (practice)1 mark

Which non-metal conducts electricity?

  1. (A) Sulphur
  2. (B) Diamond
  3. (C) Graphite
  4. (D) Iodine
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Correct answer: (C) Graphite

Graphite conducts electricity even though it is a non-metal. Diamond does not.

47Board-style (practice)1 mark

What is aqueous MgO like?

  1. (A) Acidic
  2. (B) Basic
  3. (C) Neutral
  4. (D) Not amphoteric, acidic
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Correct answer: (B) Basic

MgO is basic and turns red litmus blue.

48Board-style (practice)1 mark

An amphoteric oxide is —

  1. (A) Na₂O
  2. (B) SO₂
  3. (C) ZnO
  4. (D) CO₂
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Correct answer: (C) ZnO

ZnO and Al₂O₃ are amphoteric.

49Board-style (practice)1 mark

A metal that catches fire in cold water is —

  1. (A) Copper
  2. (B) Iron
  3. (C) Potassium
  4. (D) Silver
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Correct answer: (C) Potassium

Potassium and sodium react rapidly with cold water.

50Board-style (practice)1 mark

Which oxide does iron give with steam?

  1. (A) FeO
  2. (B) Fe₂O₃
  3. (C) Fe₃O₄
  4. (D) Fe(OH)₂
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Correct answer: (C) Fe₃O₄

With steam, iron gives Fe₃O₄.

51Board-style (practice)1 mark

In aqua regia, HCl : HNO₃ is —

  1. (A) 1 : 3
  2. (B) 3 : 1
  3. (C) 1 : 1
  4. (D) 2 : 1
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Correct answer: (B) 3 : 1

Aqua regia is a 3:1 mixture of concentrated HCl and concentrated HNO₃.

52Board-style (practice)1 mark

What colour does the solution become when an iron nail is placed in CuSO₄?

  1. (A) Deep blue
  2. (B) Pale green
  3. (C) Red
  4. (D) Colourless to black
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Correct answer: (B) Pale green

Blue CuSO₄ changes to pale green FeSO₄ and copper deposits on the nail.

53Board-style (practice)1 mark

Hydrogen in the reactivity series sits between which pair?

  1. (A) K and Na
  2. (B) Pb and Cu
  3. (C) Ag and Au
  4. (D) Mg and Al
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Correct answer: (B) Pb and Cu

The order is Pb, H, Cu.

54Board-style (practice)1 mark

In NaCl the sodium ion is —

  1. (A) Na⁻
  2. (B) Na⁺
  3. (C) Na²⁺
  4. (D) Cl⁺
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Correct answer: (B) Na⁺

Sodium loses one electron and becomes Na⁺.

55Board-style (practice)1 mark

Solid NaCl does not conduct electricity because —

  1. (A) It has no ions
  2. (B) The ions cannot move
  3. (C) It is a non-metal
  4. (D) Its melting point is low
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Correct answer: (B) The ions cannot move

In the solid the ions are fixed.

56Board-style (practice)1 mark

Heating a carbonate ore in limited air is called —

  1. (A) Roasting
  2. (B) Calcination
  3. (C) Thermite
  4. (D) Galvanisation
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Correct answer: (B) Calcination

Calcination is for a carbonate. Roasting is for a sulphide, in plenty of air.

57Board-style (practice)1 mark

The reducing agent in the thermite reaction is —

  1. (A) Carbon
  2. (B) Aluminium
  3. (C) Iron
  4. (D) Hydrogen
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Correct answer: (B) Aluminium

In Fe₂O₃ + 2Al → 2Fe + Al₂O₃, aluminium is the reducing agent.

58Board-style (practice)1 mark

In refining copper, the pure metal deposits —

  1. (A) on the anode
  2. (B) on the cathode
  3. (C) in the anode mud
  4. (D) in kerosene
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Correct answer: (B) on the cathode

Pure copper deposits on the cathode.

59Board-style (practice)1 mark

What is needed for rusting?

  1. (A) Only oxygen
  2. (B) Only water
  3. (C) Both oxygen and water
  4. (D) Only calcium chloride
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Correct answer: (C) Both oxygen and water

Rust does not form unless both moisture and air are present.

60BSEB model · practice (not an annual paper)1 mark

Which of the following is brittle?

  1. (A) Copper
  2. (B) Sulphur
  3. (C) Aluminium
  4. (D) Silver
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Correct answer: (B) Sulphur

Sulphur is a non-metal and is brittle.

61BSEB model · practice (not an annual paper)1 mark

The metal coated on iron in galvanisation is —

  1. (A) Copper
  2. (B) Tin
  3. (C) Zinc
  4. (D) Gold
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Correct answer: (C) Zinc

Galvanisation uses a layer of zinc.

62Competency-based (not a PYQ)1 mark

Four metals are given: Al, Cu, Fe, Zn. The correct order of the speed of hydrogen from dilute HCl is —

  1. (A) Cu > Fe > Zn > Al
  2. (B) Al > Zn > Fe > Cu
  3. (C) Fe > Al > Cu > Zn
  4. (D) Zn > Cu > Al > Fe
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Correct answer: (B) Al > Zn > Fe > Cu

Al > Zn > Fe, and Cu does not give H₂ with dilute HCl.

63Competency-based (not a PYQ)1 mark

A student kept three nails. A in open water, B in boiled water covered with oil, C with dry CaCl₂. Which one rusts?

  1. (A) Only A
  2. (B) A and B
  3. (C) Only C
  4. (D) All three
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Correct answer: (A) Only A

Only A has both air and water.

← Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals — full notes, questions