Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Class 10 Science: Chapter 03 Metals and Nonmetals
Review structured MCQ sets for Class 10 Science Chapter 03 Metals and Nonmetals. Built according to official CBSE guidelines, these downloadable questions support daily revision and core concept reinforcement.
Practice Chapter 03 Metals and Nonmetals MCQs for Class 10 Science
View or download the dedicated Chapter 03 Metals and Nonmetals MCQ resource below. Practicing these 50 objective questions regularly builds familiarity with standard exam patterns and helps secure higher marks in final Science evaluations.
CBSE Class 10 Science Metals and Non-metals MCQs Set 11 presents 36 solved multiple choice questions covering ductility, sonority, melting points, the action of acids and water on metals, balancing of chemical equations and formulae of ionic compounds. It also has a calculation based on a metal oxide of formula M2O and eight assertion-reason questions with step-by-step reasoning.
Multiple Choice Questions
(a) ductility
(b) malleability
(c) sonorousity
(d) conductivity
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) ductility
Explanation:
1. The property of being drawn into thin wires is called ductility.
2. Malleability is the ability to be beaten into thin sheets.
Teacher's Note:
1. Ductile means can be drawn into wires.
2. Gold is the most ductile metal.
(a) Diamond
(b) Graphite
(c) Sulphur
(d) Fullerene
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Graphite
Explanation:
1. Diamond, sulphur and fullerene do not conduct electricity.
2. Graphite, an allotrope of carbon, has free electrons and conducts electricity, so it is used for electrodes.
Teacher's Note:
1. Graphite is the exception among non-metals.
2. Diamond is hard but a poor conductor.
(a) conducts heat
(b) conducts electricity
(c) conducts water through metal pipes
(d) produces a ringing sound when beaten
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) produces a ringing sound when beaten
Explanation:
1. Sonorous materials give a ringing sound when struck with a hard object.
2. Metals are sonorous, which is why school bells are made of metals.
Teacher's Note:
1. Sonorous is linked to sound.
2. Bells, gongs and cymbals use this property.
(a) reducing agents
(b) oxidising agents
(c) both oxidising and reducing agents
(d) None of these
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) reducing agents
Explanation:
1. Metals lose electrons easily, so they are electropositive.
2. A substance that loses electrons is a reducing agent, so metals are generally reducing agents.
Teacher's Note:
1. Losing electrons means being oxidised and acting as a reducing agent.
2. Non-metals mostly act as oxidising agents.
(a) Potassium
(b) Sodium
(c) Gallium
(d) Phosphorous
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Gallium
Explanation:
1. Potassium and sodium are soft metals but have melting points well above body temperature.
2. Gallium (and caesium) melt when kept on the palm, and phosphorus is a non-metal.
Teacher's Note:
1. Gallium melts at about 30°C.
2. The question asks for a metal, so phosphorus is out.
(i) It does not react with water
(ii) It reacts violently with water
(iii) It reacts less violently with water
(iv) Bubbles of hydrogen gas formed stick to the surface of calcium
(a) (i) and (iv)
(b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (i) and (ii)
(d) (iii) and (iv)
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) (iii) and (iv)
Explanation:
1. Calcium reacts with water less violently than sodium: Ca + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 + H2.
2. The hydrogen bubbles stick to the metal surface and make it float, so (iii) and (iv) are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. The heat released is not enough to ignite the hydrogen.
2. Floating is caused by sticking bubbles, not by low density.
(a) Mg
(b) Ag
(c) Zn
(d) Cu
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Ag
Explanation:
1. A metal is displaced by every metal that is more reactive than it.
2. Silver is the least reactive of the four, so Mg, Zn and Cu can all displace it.
Teacher's Note:
1. Arrange the four in order: Mg > Zn > Cu > Ag.
2. The least reactive metal is displaced by all the others.
(a) NO - Neutral oxide
(b) Cl2O7 - Acidic oxide
(c) MgO - Basic Oxide
(d) P4O10 - Basic oxide
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) P4O10 - Basic oxide
Explanation:
1. NO is a neutral oxide, Cl2O7 is an oxide of a non-metal and is acidic and MgO is the oxide of a metal, so it is basic.
2. P4O10 is the oxide of the non-metal phosphorus and is acidic, so the pair in (d) is incorrect.
Teacher's Note:
1. Oxides of non-metals are mostly acidic.
2. CO, NO and N2O are neutral oxides.
(a) Mg > Al > Zn > Fe
(b) Mg > Zn > Al > Fe
(c) Al > Zn > Fe > Mg
(d) Mg > Fe > Zn > Al
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Mg > Al > Zn > Fe
Explanation:
1. In the activity series, magnesium is above aluminium, aluminium is above zinc and zinc is above iron.
2. So the decreasing order is Mg > Al > Zn > Fe.
Teacher's Note:
1. Learn the series with a mnemonic.
2. Check each option by comparing neighbouring pairs.
(a) Zinc is more reactive than aluminium
(b) Copper is more reactive than aluminium
(c) Zinc is less reactive than copper
(d) Zinc, iron, silver and copper are less reactive than aluminium
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Zinc, iron, silver and copper are less reactive than aluminium
Explanation:
1. A metal can displace aluminium from Al2(SO4)3 only if it is more reactive than aluminium.
2. Zinc, iron, silver and copper are all below aluminium, so none of them displaces it and no reaction is seen in any tube.
Teacher's Note:
1. Aluminium is higher in the series than all four metals.
2. No reaction means the added metal is less reactive.
(a) Cu, Zn
(b) Cu, Mg
(c) Mg, Mn
(d) Zn, Mn
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Mg, Mn
Explanation:
1. Most metals do not give hydrogen with nitric acid because it is a strong oxidising agent.
2. Magnesium and manganese are the exceptions and give hydrogen with very dilute nitric acid.
Teacher's Note:
1. Remember the exception: Mg and Mn.
2. Copper never gives hydrogen with acids.
X – P4(s) + 5O2(g) →
Y – 2Mg(s) + O2(g) →
Which option completes the reactions to form a balanced chemical equation?
(a) X - P5O4(s); Y - (MgO)2(s)
(b) X - 4PO10(s); Y - 4MgO(s)
(c) X - P4O10(s); Y - 2MgO(s)
(d) X - 5P4O2(s); Y - Mg2O2(s)
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) X - P4O10(s); Y - 2MgO(s)
Explanation:
1. Four phosphorus atoms and ten oxygen atoms give P4O10.
2. Two magnesium atoms and two oxygen atoms give 2MgO, so option (c) is balanced.
Teacher's Note:
1. Write the correct formulae first, then balance.
2. Magnesium oxide is MgO, not Mg2O2.
(a) X - Sulphur, Y - Oxygen
(b) X - Carbon dioxide, Y - Oxygen
(c) X - Sulphur dioxide, Y - Oxygen
(d) X - Hydrogen, Y - Oxygen
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) X - Sulphur dioxide, Y - Oxygen
Explanation:
1. Roasting cinnabar in air gives HgO and sulphur dioxide: 2HgS + 3O2 → 2HgO + 2SO2.
2. On further heating HgO decomposes to mercury and oxygen: 2HgO → 2Hg + O2. So X is SO2 and Y is O2.
Teacher's Note:
1. Sulphide ores give SO2 on roasting.
2. Mercury oxide breaks down on heating alone.
(a) X3Y2
(b) X2Y3
(c) X2Y5
(d) XY
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) X3Y2
Explanation:
1. X loses 2 electrons to form X2+ and Y needs 3 electrons to form Y3−.
2. Balancing the charges (3 ions of X2+ = +6 and 2 ions of Y3− = −6) gives X3Y2.
Teacher's Note:
1. Cross the charges to find the formula.
2. Total positive and negative charge must be equal.
(a) 16
(b) 17
(c) 18
(d) 20
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) 18
Explanation:
1. A neutral atom of Y has 16 electrons.
2. The ion Y2− has gained 2 electrons, so it has 16 + 2 = 18 electrons.
Teacher's Note:
1. A negative charge means extra electrons.
2. Count the electrons gained.
I. They conduct electricity in solid-state
II. They conduct electricity in solutions.
III. They conduct electricity in the molten state.
Choose the correct option.
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) III only
(d) II and III only
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) II and III only
Explanation:
1. In the solid state the ions are fixed, so statement I is wrong.
2. In solution and in the molten state the ions are free to move, so II and III are correct.
Teacher's Note:
1. Free ions carry current.
2. Solid ionic compounds are insulators.
(a) chemical bonding
(b) molecular bonding
(c) ionic bonding
(d) covalent bonding
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) ionic bonding
Explanation:
1. When a metal gives electrons to a non-metal, positive and negative ions are formed.
2. The attraction between them is called ionic bonding.
Teacher's Note:
1. Transfer gives ionic bond, sharing gives covalent bond.
2. Chemical bonding is a general term.
(a) PbWO4
(b) Pb2(WO4)3
(c) Pb3(WO4)2
(d) Pb3(WO4)4
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) PbWO4
Explanation:
1. Sodium tungstate shows that the tungstate ion is WO42−.
2. In Pb3(PO4)2 the lead ion is Pb2+, so lead tungstate is PbWO4.
Teacher's Note:
1. Derive each ion’s charge from the given formulae.
2. Equal charges cancel in a 1 : 1 ratio.
(a) deposited on cathode
(b) deposited on anode
(c) deposited on cathode as well as anode
(d) remains in the solution
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) deposited on cathode
Explanation:
1. In electrolytic refining the impure metal is the anode and a thin strip of pure metal is the cathode.
2. Zinc ions from the solution gain electrons and are deposited on the cathode as pure zinc.
Teacher's Note:
1. Pure metal always deposits on the cathode.
2. Impure metal dissolves from the anode.
(a) slag
(b) gangue
(c) ore
(d) mineral
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) ore
Explanation:
1. Minerals are the elements or compounds found naturally in the earth’s crust.
2. A mineral from which the metal can be extracted profitably is called an ore.
Teacher's Note:
1. All ores are minerals, but not all minerals are ores.
2. Gangue is the impurity in the ore.
(a) Hg
(b) Pb
(c) Zn
(d) Cu
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Hg
Explanation:
1. Cinnabar is mercuric sulphide, HgS.
2. It is the main ore of mercury.
Teacher's Note:
1. Heating cinnabar in air gives mercury directly.
2. Mercury is low in the reactivity series.
(a) highly reactive
(b) moderately reactive
(c) highly unreactive
(d) All types of metals
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) highly reactive
Explanation:
1. Highly reactive metals cannot be reduced by carbon because they have a greater affinity for oxygen.
2. They are therefore obtained by electrolysis of their molten compounds.
Teacher's Note:
1. Top of the series means electrolysis.
2. Bottom of the series means heating alone.
(a) 118.5 u
(b) 74.5 u
(c) 118.0 u
(d) 120.0 u
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) 74.5 u
Explanation:
1. For M2O: 2M + 16 = 94, so the atomic mass of M = 39 u (potassium).
2. The chloride is MCl: 39 + 35.5 = 74.5 u.
Teacher's Note:
1. Solve for M first.
2. M2O means the metal is monovalent, so its chloride is MCl.
(a) Ag3N
(b) Ag2O
(c) Ag2S
(d) Ag2S and Ag3N
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Ag2S
Explanation:
1. Silver reacts slowly with sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide present in air.
2. This forms a black coating of silver sulphide, Ag2S.
Teacher's Note:
1. Tarnished silver is silver sulphide.
2. Copper turns green and iron turns reddish-brown.
(a) Brass
(b) Bronze
(c) Amalgam
(d) Steel
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) Steel
Explanation:
1. Brass is copper and zinc, bronze is copper and tin and amalgam contains mercury, all of which are metals.
2. Steel contains iron and carbon, and carbon is a non-metal.
Teacher's Note:
1. Steel = iron + carbon.
2. Check each alloy’s constituents.
I. Metal H does not react with dilute HCl.
II. Metal K reacts with warm water.
III. Metal L does not react with water but displaces metal H from its aqueous salt solution.
IV. Metal M reacts with cold water.
Choose the correct decreasing order of reactivity of these metals amongst the following:
(a) M > L > H > K
(b) K > M > H > L
(c) M > K > L > H
(d) L > H > K > M
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) M > K > L > H
Explanation:
1. M reacts with cold water, so M is the most reactive, followed by K, which reacts only with warm water.
2. L does not react with water but displaces H, so L is more reactive than H, and H does not react with dilute HCl, so it is the least reactive. The order is M > K > L > H.
Teacher's Note:
1. Order by the mildest conditions needed for reaction.
2. A displacing metal is more reactive than the displaced one.
(a) Iron
(b) Copper
(c) Aluminium
(d) Magnesium
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) Aluminium
Explanation:
1. Aluminium forms a thin, hard layer of aluminium oxide on its surface.
2. This layer protects the metal from further corrosion.
Teacher's Note:
1. A tight oxide layer protects the metal underneath.
2. Iron’s rust is flaky and falls off.
(a) they are malleable and ductile
(b) they are sonorous
(c) they are generally hard
(d) they have a shining surface
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) they are malleable and ductile
Explanation:
1. Malleable metals can be beaten into sheets and ductile metals can be drawn into wires.
2. This lets us shape them as needed.
Teacher's Note:
1. Shapes come from malleability and ductility.
2. Hardness and lustre do not help shaping.
Assertion–Reason Questions
Assertion (A): Sodium metal is obtained by electrolytic reduction.
Reason (R): Sodium is a highly reactive metal.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
1. Highly reactive metals like sodium cannot be reduced by carbon, so they are obtained by electrolysis of their molten chlorides.
2. Therefore both statements are true and R explains A.
Teacher's Note:
1. Top-of-the-series metals need electrolysis.
2. Molten NaCl is electrolysed.
Assertion (A): Different metals have different reactivities with water and dilute acids.
Reason (R): Reactivity of a metal depends on its position in the reactivity series.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
1. Metals high in the reactivity series react vigorously with water and acids, while metals low in the series react little or not at all.
2. So both statements are true and R explains A.
Teacher's Note:
1. Position in the series decides reactivity.
2. K is most reactive, Au least.
Assertion (A): From metals school bells are made.
Reason (R): Metals are sonorous.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
1. Metals produce a ringing sound when struck.
2. This property of being sonorous is why metals are used for bells, so R explains A.
Teacher's Note:
1. Sonorous metals make bells, gongs and cymbals.
2. Non-metals are non-sonorous.
Assertion (A): Carbonate ores are changed into oxides by roasting process.
Reason (R): It is easier to obtain a metal from its oxides.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) A is false, but R is true.
Explanation:
1. Carbonate ores are changed into oxides by calcination, not roasting (roasting is for sulphide ores), so A is false.
2. It is easier to obtain a metal from its oxide than from its carbonate or sulphide, so R is true.
Teacher's Note:
1. Calcination: carbonates. Roasting: sulphides.
2. Reduction of oxides is easier.
Assertion (A): Platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery.
Reason (R): Platinum, gold and silver are least reactive metals and highly malleable and lustrous.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
1. These metals are lustrous, malleable and do not corrode easily because they are very unreactive.
2. Hence both statements are true and R explains A.
Teacher's Note:
1. Jewellery metals are shiny and unreactive.
2. They are noble metals.
Assertion (A): Non metals do not displace hydrogen from dilute acids.
Reason (R): Non metals react with hydrogen to form hydrides.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
1. Non-metals accept electrons and cannot supply electrons to hydrogen ions, so they do not displace hydrogen from acids and A is true.
2. Non-metals do form hydrides such as NH3 and H2S, so R is true, but it does not explain A.
Teacher's Note:
1. Displacing hydrogen needs electron donors.
2. Non-metals are electron acceptors.
Assertion (A): MgCl2 is a covalent compound.
Reason (R): MgCl2 is a good conductor of electricity in molten state.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (d) A is false, but R is true.
Explanation:
1. MgCl2 is formed by transfer of electrons from magnesium to chlorine, so it is ionic and A is false.
2. Molten ionic compounds contain free ions and conduct electricity, so R is true.
Teacher's Note:
1. Ionic compounds conduct in molten state.
2. Covalent compounds do not conduct.
Assertion (A): Sodium metal reduces chlorine to chloride ion forming sodium chloride.
Reason (R): Sodium metal can lose electrons and act as a reducing agent.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
1. Sodium loses one electron, which is gained by chlorine to form the chloride ion, and NaCl is formed.
2. A substance that loses electrons is a reducing agent, so R explains A.
Teacher's Note:
1. Reducing agent = electron donor.
2. Metals are good reducing agents.
Free study material for Science
Download Chapter MCQs: Class 10 Science Chapter 03 Metals and Nonmetals
Download Multiple Choice Questions: Chapter 03 Metals and Nonmetals (Class 10 Science)
Explore reliable practice questions for Chapter 03 Metals and Nonmetals tailored for Class 10 Science learners. Use these multiple-choice formats to evaluate preparedness and strengthen problem-solving skills.
Concept Clarification for Chapter 03 Metals and Nonmetals
Built using the official NCERT book for Class 10, these Science objective sets provide reliable academic guidance. Pair your practice with our recommended NCERT solutions to master optimal problem-solving approaches.
Additional Study Resources for Class 10 Science
Wrap up your chapter revision by testing your knowledge against standard question formats. Everything on our platform is provided free of charge.
FAQs
You can get most exhaustive CBSE Class 10 Science Metals and Non Metals MCQs Set 11 for free on StudiesToday.com. These MCQs for Class 10 Science are updated for the 2026-27 academic session as per CBSE examination standards.
Yes, our CBSE Class 10 Science Metals and Non Metals MCQs Set 11 include the latest type of questions, such as Assertion-Reasoning and Case-based MCQs. 50% of the CBSE paper is now competency-based.
By solving our CBSE Class 10 Science Metals and Non Metals MCQs Set 11, Class 10 students can improve their accuracy and speed which is important as objective questions provide a chance to secure 100% marks in the Science.
Yes, Science MCQs for Class 10 have answer key and brief explanations to help students understand logic behind the correct option as its important for 2026 competency-focused CBSE exams.
Yes, you can also access online interactive tests for CBSE Class 10 Science Metals and Non Metals MCQs Set 11 on StudiesToday.com as they provide instant answers and score to help you track your progress in Science.