Class 10 Science: Chemical Properties of Metals — Practice Questions with Answers
Exam-style CBSE practice questions on Chemical Properties of Metals (Metals and Non-metals). Try each one first, then reveal the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Free, from EduLevel — the AI teacher for CBSE.
Q1medium1 mark
Why are food cans coated with tin instead of zinc?
zinc is costlier than tin.
zinc has a higher melting point than tin.
zinc is more reactive than tin.
zinc is less reactive than tin.
Need a hint?
Think about how metals protect iron from rusting. Consider the concept of sacrificial protection.
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Answer: zinc is more reactive than tin.
Explanation: Zinc is more reactive than tin. If food cans were coated with zinc, the zinc would react with the acids present in the food, making it unsafe for consumption.
Q2medium1 mark
From the given pairs, identify which one will undergo a displacement reaction.
NaCl solution and copper metal
MgCl₂ solution and aluminium metal
FeSO₄ solution and silver metal
AgNO₃ solution and copper metal
Need a hint?
A displacement reaction occurs when a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution. You should consider the reactivity series of metals.
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Answer: AgNO₃ solution and copper metal
Explanation: Copper is more reactive than silver, so it will displace silver from its salt solution (AgNO₃). In the other options, the metal is less reactive than the metal in the salt solution.
Q3medium1 markCBSE 2025
What is the primary reason for using aluminium powder in thermit welding?
Its reaction with iron is highly exothermic.
When heated with iron (III) oxide, it produces molten iron.
When heated with iron (III) oxide, it produces molten aluminium oxide to join tracks.
Its low melting point compared to iron allows it to form a molten alloy for joining tracks.
Need a hint?
Consider the chemical reaction involved in thermit welding. What type of reaction produces a large amount of heat and is useful for melting metals?
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Answer: When heated with iron (III) oxide, it produces molten iron.
Explanation: In the thermit reaction, aluminium reduces iron(III) oxide in a highly exothermic reaction, producing molten iron which is used to weld heavy iron objects like railway tracks.
Q4easy1 markCBSE 2025
Identify the respective products formed when Aluminium and Magnesium are combusted in the presence of air.
Al₂O₃ and MgO₂
Al₂O₃ and MgO
Al₃O₄ and MgO
Al₂O₃ and MgO₃
Need a hint?
Combustion in air primarily involves reaction with oxygen. Consider the common oxidation states of Aluminium and Magnesium.
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Answer: Al₂O₃ and MgO
Explanation: When burnt in air, aluminium reacts with oxygen to form aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃), and magnesium reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide (MgO).
Q5medium1 markCBSE 2025
A certain metal, M, displaces iron from an aqueous solution of ferrous sulphate but is unable to displace aluminium from an aqueous solution of aluminium sulphate. What is metal M?
Magnesium
Copper
Lead
Zinc
Need a hint?
This question relates to the reactivity series of metals. Remember that a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its salt solution.
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Answer: Zinc
Explanation: The metal M must be more reactive than iron but less reactive than aluminium. According to the reactivity series, zinc (Zn) fits this description (Al > Zn > Fe).
Q6easy1 markCBSE 2024
What is the color of the solution observed approximately one hour after iron nails are placed into a copper sulphate solution?
Blue
Pale green
Yellow
Reddish brown
Need a hint?
Think about the chemical reaction that occurs when a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution. This is a classic example of a displacement reaction.
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Answer: Pale green
Explanation: Iron is more reactive than copper, so it displaces copper from the copper sulphate solution. This forms iron(II) sulphate, which has a pale green color.
Q7medium1 markCBSE 2024
Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Hydrogen gas is not evolved when a metal reacts with nitric acid.
Reason (R): Nitric acid is a strong reducing agent and reduces the hydrogen produced in the reaction to water.
Which of the options is correct?
Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Need a hint?
Think about the typical reactivity of metals with acids and the special properties of nitric acid.
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Answer: Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
Explanation: The assertion is true because nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent, which oxidizes the hydrogen gas formed to water. The reason is false as it incorrectly states that nitric acid is a reducing agent.
Q8easy1 markCBSE 2024
Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Silver chloride turns grey in sunlight.
Reason (R): Decomposition of silver chloride into silver and chlorine takes place by sunlight.
Which of the options is correct?
Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Need a hint?
Think about what happens to certain white salts when exposed to light. This relates to a type of chemical reaction.
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Answer: Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Explanation: Silver chloride undergoes photochemical decomposition in sunlight, breaking down into silver (which is grey) and chlorine gas. Therefore, both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion.
Q9easy1 markCBSE 2024
From the following list, select the correct observations made during the experiment of burning a magnesium ribbon in air:
(i) The magnesium ribbon burns with a dazzling white flame.
(ii) A white powder is formed.
(iii) The magnesium ribbon undergoes vaporization.
(iv) An aqueous solution of the white powder turns blue litmus paper to red.
(i) and (iv)
(ii) and (iii)
(i) and (ii)
(iii) and (iv)
Need a hint?
Recall the characteristic properties of burning metals in air and the nature of the products formed.
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Answer: (i) and (ii)
Explanation: Magnesium burns with a bright white flame (i) to produce magnesium oxide, a white powder (ii). Magnesium oxide is basic, so it turns red litmus blue, making (iv) incorrect. Magnesium does not vaporize, so (iii) is incorrect.
Q10easy1 markCBSE 2024
What is the chemical nature of the oxides of aluminum and zinc?
acidic
basic
amphoteric
neutral
Need a hint?
Consider the ability of these oxides to react with both acids and bases. This property is key to classifying their chemical nature.
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Answer: amphoteric
Explanation: Aluminum oxide and zinc oxide are amphoteric because they react with both acids and bases to form salt and water.
Q11medium1 markCBSE 2024
A metal, denoted as 'X', is a key component in the thermit process. When this metal 'X' is heated in the presence of oxygen, it forms an oxide 'Y', which is known to be amphoteric. Identify the metal 'X' and its oxide 'Y'.
Mn, MnO2
Al, Al2O3
Fe, Fe2O3
Mg, MgO
Need a hint?
The thermit process is a highly exothermic reaction often used for welding. Consider which common metals are known for their high reactivity and use in such processes.
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Answer: Al, Al2O3
Explanation: Aluminium (Al) is the metal used in the thermit process. It reacts with oxygen to form aluminium oxide (Al2O3), which is an amphoteric oxide.
Q12medium1 markCBSE 2024
For the following question, two statements are given: Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Select the correct option.
Assertion (A): Different metals exhibit varying levels of reactivity when exposed to water and dilute acids.
Reason (R): The method used for extracting a metal from its ore is determined by its position in the reactivity series.
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(A) is true, but (R) is false.
(A) is false, but (R) is true.
Need a hint?
Consider the concept of the reactivity series of metals. How does this series relate to the behavior of metals with water and acids, and how does it influence extraction methods?
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Answer: Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Both statements are independently true. A metal's reactivity determines how it reacts with acids/water, and also determines the feasibility of different extraction methods. However, the reason (extraction method) is an application of the reactivity series, not the direct explanation for why metals react differently with acids and water.
Q13easy1 markCBSE 2023
A metal designated 'X' is a key component in the thermite process. When 'X' is combusted in air, it produces an amphoteric oxide 'Y'. Identify 'X' and 'Y' from the options provided.
Fe and Fe₂O₃
Al and Al₂O₃
Fe and Fe₃O₄
Al and Al₂O₃
Need a hint?
The thermite process is a well-known exothermic reaction involving a highly reactive metal and a metal oxide. Consider which common metals are known for their high reactivity and use in such processes.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Al and Al₂O₃
Explanation: The metal used in the thermite process is Aluminium (Al). When Aluminium burns in air, it forms Aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃), which is a well-known amphoteric oxide.
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