Ch-3 Metals and Non-metals

In-text questions Page number 40

1. 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?

Solution:

(i) Mercury is the metal which is liquid at room temperature

(ii) Sodium and potassium are the metals which can be cut with a knife

(iii) Silver is the best conductor of heat

(iv) Mercury and lead are poor conductor of heat.

2. Explain the meanings of malleable and ductile.

Solution:

1. Metals which can be beaten to sheets are said to be malleable

2. Metals which can be drawn into thin wires are said to be ductile
In-text questions set 2 Page number 46

1. Why is sodium kept immersed in kerosene oil?

Solution: Sodium is a reactive metal. If kept open it will react with oxygen to
explore and catch fire. Sodium metal is kept immersed in kerosene to prevent
their reaction with oxygen, moisture and carbon dioxide of air.

2. Write equations for the reactions of

(i) iron with steam

(ii) calcium and potassium with water

 Solution: (i) Iron reacts with steam to form a magnetic oxide of Fe with
the liberation of H2.
3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) → Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g)

(ii) Calcium reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide and hydrogen.

Ca(s) + 2H2O(I) → Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

Potassium reacts with cold water violently immediately with evolution of
H2 which catches fire.
2K(s) + 2H2O(I) → 2KOH(aq) + 2H2(g)

3. Samples of four metals A, B, C and D were taken and added to the

following solution one by one. The results obtained have been tabulated as
follows

Metal Iron(II) sulphate Copper(II) sulphate Zinc sulphate Silver Nitrate

A No reaction Displacement – –

B Displacement – – –

C No reaction No reaction No reaction Displacement

D No reaction No reaction No reaction No reaction

Use the table above to answer the following questions about metals A, B, C
and D.

1. Which is the most reactive metal?

2. What would you observe if B is added to a solution of Copper (II)
sulphate?
3. Arrange the metals A, B, C and D in the order of decreasing
reactivity.
Solution:
(1) Metal B is the most reactive as it gives displacement reaction with
iron (II) sulphate.
(2) When metal B is added to copper (II) sulphate solution, a
displacement reaction will take place because of which the blue colour of
 copper (II) sulphate solution will fade and a red-brown deposit of copper
will be formed on metal B.
(3)Metal B is the most reactive because it displaces iron from its salt
solution. Metal A is less reactive because it displaces copper from its salt
solution. Metal C is still less reactive because it can displace only silver
from its salt solution, and metal D is the least reactive because it cannot
displace any metal from its salt solution. Hence, the decreasing order of
reactivity of the metals is B > A > C > D.
4. Which gas is produced when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to a
reactive metal? Write the chemical reaction when iron reacts with
dilute H2SO4.
Solution: Hydrogen gas is liberated when dilute HCl is added to a
reactive metal.

Fe(s) + H2SO4(aq) → FeSO4(aq) + H2(g)

5. What would you observe when zinc is added to a solution of iron (II)
sulphate? Write the chemical reaction that takes place.

Solution: Zinc is more reactive (more electro positive) than iron. Therefore,
Zinc displaces Iron from its salt solution. The colour of ferrous sulphate is pale
green, which turns colourless.

FeSO4 + Zn → ZnSO4 + Fe(s)

Light green Zinc sulphate (Colourless)

Page number 49

1. (i) Write the electron-dot structures for sodium and oxygen.

(ii) Show the formation of Na2O and MgO by the transfer of electrons.

(iii) What are the ions present in these compounds?

Solution: (i) Sodium:

Oxygen:
ii) Formation of Magnesium oxide:

When magnesium reacts with oxygen, the magnesium atom transfers its two
outermost electrons to an oxygen atom. By losing two electrons, the magnesium
atoms form a magnesium ion (Mg2+), and by gaining two electrons, the oxygen
atom forms an oxide ion (O2-).
Mg: +

→ MgO
Formation of Sodium oxide:

Two sodium atoms transfer their 2 outermost electrons to an oxygen atom. By

losing two electrons, the two sodium atoms form sodium ions (2Na+). And by
gaining two electrons, the oxygen atom forms an oxide ion (O2-).

(iii) The ions present in sodium oxide compound (Na2O) are sodium ions (2Na+)
and oxide ions (O2-).

The ions present in Magnesium oxide compound (MgO) are magnesium ions
Mg2+ and oxide ions (O2-).

2. Why do ionic compounds have high melting points?

Solution: Ionic compounds are the ones which have both positive and negative
charges. Hence, there will be strong force of attraction between them. This
make expenditure of a lot of heat to break this force of attraction, hence ionic
compounds have high melting points.

Page number 53

1. Define the following terms.

(i) Mineral

(ii) Ore

(iii) Gangue

Solution:

1. Minerals are compounds (also known as elements) which are found

naturally in the earth’s crust. E.g. Alums, K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O, etc.
2. Ores are minerals from which metal can be extracted Ex: Bauxite
Al2O3.2H2O is the ore of Al, copper pyrite CuFeS2. All minerals are not
considered as ores but all ores are also minerals.
3. Ores mined from the earth are naturally contaminated with sand, rocky
materials. There are impurities present in the ore which are known as
gangue.

2. Name two metals which are found in nature in the free state

Solution: Gold and platinum are the two metals found in free state in
nature.

3. What chemical process is used for obtaining a metal from its oxide?

Reduction method is used to obtain metal from its oxide. Ex: Zinc oxide
is reduced to metallic zinc by heating with carbon.
ZnO + C → Zn + CO
Ex: Lead oxide is reduced to lead by heating with carbon
PbO +C → Pb + CO

Page number 56-57

5. 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.

Solution:
Metals are malleable and can be easily drown into sheets by hitting with
hammer. On the other hand, if we beat non-metals they break down and they
cannot be drawn into sheets as they are non-malleable. Metals are good
conductors of electricity, hence they make bulb when you connect metals with a
battery, wire and bulb. Similarly, if non-metals are bad conductors of electricity,
they fail to light up the bulb on connecting with wire and battery.

These experiments can be helpful to demonstrate the malleability and electric

conductivity of the metals and non-metals

6. What are amphoteric oxides? Give two examples of amphoteric oxides.

Solution: Oxides that react with both acids and bases to form salt and
water are known as amphoteric oxides. Examples: PbO and Al2O3.

Amphoteric oxides are the one which react with both acids and bases to form
salt and water. Examples: Lead oxide – PbO and Aluminium oxide – Al2O3.

7. Name two metals which will displace hydrogen from dilute acids, and
two metals which will not.

Solution: Zinc (Zn) and Magnesium (Mg) are the two metals which will
displace hydrogen from dilute acids as they are very reactive metals. Gold
(Au) and Silver (Ag) are the metals which will not replace hydrogen from
dilute acids as these metals are less reactive.

8. In the electrolytic refining of a metal M, what would you take as the

anode, the cathode and the electrolyte?

Solution: In the process of electrolytic refining of metal called ‘M’, an

impure and thick block of metal M is considered an anode, a thin strip or
wire of pure metal M is taken as cathode. A suitable salt solution of metal M
is considered as the electrolyte.

9. Pratyush took sulphur powder on a spatula and heated it. He collected

the gas evolved by inverting a test tube over it, as shown in figure below.

(a) What will be the action of gas on

(i) dry litmus paper?

(ii) moist litmus paper?

(b) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction taking place.

Solution: a) When sulphur powder is burnt in the air sulphur-di-oxide is

formed.

(i) Sulphur-di-oxide does not have any effect on dry litmus paper.

(ii) Sulphur-di-oxide turn the moist litmus paper from blue to red as contact of
SO2 with water turns to sulfurous acid.

(b) S(s) + O2(g) → SO2(g)

SO2(g) + H2O →H2SO3

10. State two ways to prevent the rusting of iron.

Solution:

1. Iron can be prevented from rusting by coating the surface of the iron with
rust proof paints
2. By applying oil/grease on the surface of iron objects as it will prevent the
iron surface to get in contact with air consisting of moisture.
11. What type of oxides are formed when non-metals combine with oxygen?

Solution: When non-metals combine with oxygen they form either acidic or
neutral oxides. Ex: N2O5 or N2O3 is an acidic oxide; CO is a neutral oxide.

12. 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

Solution:

(a) Platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery as these metals are very
less reactive. Hence, they are not affected by air, water or most chemicals.
These metals have a lot of luster and they are malleable and ductile in nature,
and also high corrosion resistance in nature.

(b) Sodium, potassium and lithium readily react with water to produce a lot of
heat. As a result, hydrogen evolved in the reaction results in a fire. On exposure
to water they react with moisture (water droplets) present in the atmosphere, in
order to prevent contact with water. Hence, these metals are stored under oil.

(c) Aluminium forms on its surface a nonreactive surface of aluminium oxide.

Such coating prevents other compounds from reacting to aluminium. So
aluminium is used to produce utensils for cooking.

(d) Reducing metal oxide into free metal is easy. Additionally, because it is
easier to obtain metals directly from their oxides than from their carbonates or
sulphides, the carbonate and sulphide ores are first transformed to oxides to
obtain the metals.

13. 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.

Solution: Tarnished copper vessels are cleaned with lemon or tamarind because
this sour substance contains acids which dissolve the coating of copper oxide or
basic copper carbonate present on the surface or tarnished copper vessels. This
makes them shining red-brown again. Hence, they are very effective in cleaning
tarnished copper vessels.

14. Differentiate between metal and non-metal on the basis of their

chemical properties.

Solution:

Metals Non-metals

When metals are heated with oxygen, they When non-metals are heated with oxygen,
form ionic oxides which are basic in they form covalent oxides which are acidic
nature and form bases on dissolving with in nature, which form acid on dissolving
water. This turn red litmus paper to blue. with water. This turn blue litmus paper to
red.
They are electro positive, lose electrons They are electro negative, gain electrons and
readily and become a positive ion. become negative ions.

Metals are lustrous. Non-metals are non-lustrous; graphite is the

exception

Reducing agents. Good oxidising agents.

Metals are the good conductors of Non-metals are non-conductors of electricity

electricity and heat. and heat; graphite is the exception

All metals are solids except mercury. Non-metals are in solid-liquid and gaseous
states.

15. 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?

Solution: The goldsmith used a solution called Aqua regia which is referred to
as royal water in Latin. It is the mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid and
concentrated nitric acid in the ratio of 3:1. Aqua regia is capable of dissolving
noble metals like gold and platinum. When upper-layer of dull gold ornament is
dissolved they lose their weight.

16. Give reasons why copper is used to make hot water tanks and not steel
(an alloy of iron).

Solution: Copper is used to make hot water tanks and not steel (an alloy of
iron) because copper does not react with either water or steam, whereas iron
reacts with steams to corrode the tank.

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