Questions on Metals and Non-Metals
Multiple-Choice Questions: Metals and Non-Metals
Properties and Differences
1. Which of the following is a property of metals?
A) Poor conductor of electricity
B) Brittle
C) Dull surface
D) Malleable
E) Low melting point
2. Non-metals are generally:
A) Ductile
B) Malleable
C) Good conductors of heat
D) Sonorous
E) Brittle
3. Which property is most characteristic of metals?
A) Transparency
B) Non-reactivity
C) High electrical conductivity
D) Low boiling point
E) Low density
4. Which of the following is a non-metal?
A) Iron
B) Copper
C) Chlorine
D) Zinc
E) Magnesium
5. Which metal is liquid at room temperature?
A) Mercury
B) Lead
C) Aluminum
D) Gallium
E) Zinc
6. Which of the following is NOT a typical property of non-metals?
A) Poor conductor
B) Low density
C) Malleable
D) Low melting point
E) Brittle
7. Which of the following metals is the most reactive?
A) Gold
B) Iron
C) Sodium
D) Copper
E) Silver
8. Which property is generally true for both metals and non-metals?
A) High conductivity
B) Ability to form ions
C) Ductility
D) Sonority
E) Luster
9. What happens when metals react with oxygen?
A) They form non-metal oxides
B) They produce metal hydroxides
C) They form acidic solutions
D) They form basic oxides
E) They form salts
10. Which is a good conductor of electricity among non-metals?
A) Sulfur
B) Phosphorus
C) Graphite
D) Chlorine
E) Bromine
Reactivity and Uses
11. Metals tend to:
A) Gain electrons
B) Form acidic oxides
C) Lose electrons
D) Be non-reactive
E) Form covalent bonds
12. Non-metals generally form what type of oxides?
A) Basic
B) Neutral
C) Amphoteric
D) Acidic
E) Metallic
13. Which element is commonly used in electrical wiring due to its high conductivity?
A) Zinc
B) Copper
C) Tin
D) Iron
E) Aluminum
14. Which of the following is used to disinfect water and is a non-metal?
A) Sodium
B) Chlorine
C) Calcium
D) Magnesium
E) Iron
15. Which non-metal is essential for respiration?
A) Nitrogen
B) Hydrogen
C) Oxygen
D) Carbon
E) Sulfur
16. Which metal is used for making aircraft bodies due to its low density and strength?
A) Iron
B) Zinc
C) Lead
D) Aluminum
E) Mercury
17. Which of the following metals is least reactive?
A) Potassium
B) Calcium
C) Gold
D) Magnesium
E) Sodium
18. Which is a non-metal that can conduct electricity?
A) Oxygen
B) Carbon (as graphite)
C) Nitrogen
D) Sulfur
E) Phosphorus
19. Metals are generally found in nature as:
A) Free elements
B) Noble gases
C) Compounds
D) Halogens
E) Alkali solutions
20. Non-metals in nature are usually found as:
A) Oxides or free elements
B) Alloys
C) Carbonates
D) Sulfides only
E) Uncombined ions
Chemical Properties and Reactions
21. What is formed when non-metals react with hydrogen?
A) Metallic hydrides
B) Ionic salts
C) Covalent hydrides
D) Basic oxides
E) Ammonia only
22. Which metal does not react with cold water?
A) Sodium
B) Potassium
C) Iron
D) Calcium
E) Lithium
23. When a metal reacts with an acid, it produces:
A) Salt and water
B) Metal oxide
C) Salt and hydrogen gas
D) Hydrogen peroxide
E) Base and salt
24. Which of the following is the lightest metal?
A) Lithium
B) Sodium
C) Potassium
D) Aluminum
E) Calcium
25. Which non-metal forms a yellow solid and is used in vulcanization of rubber?
A) Nitrogen
B) Phosphorus
C) Sulfur
D) Oxygen
E) Fluorine
26. What happens when iron reacts with oxygen and moisture?
A) It becomes shiny
B) It rusts
C) It explodes
D) It dissolves
E) It loses electrons and forms hydrogen gas
27. Which metal can be cut with a knife?
A) Iron
B) Gold
C) Potassium
D) Copper
E) Silver
28. Non-metals tend to form:
A) Positive ions
B) Negative ions
C) Alloys
D) Free radicals
E) Cations
29. Which non-metal is used in making fertilizers and explosives?
A) Phosphorus
B) Sulfur
C) Carbon
D) Oxygen
E) Nitrogen
30. Which non-metal is found in all organic compounds?
A) Nitrogen
B) Oxygen
C) Hydrogen
D) Phosphorus
E) Carbon
Identification and Classification
31. Which one is a metalloid?
A) Boron
B) Oxygen
C) Fluorine
D) Aluminum
E) Chlorine
32. Which of these is a noble metal?
A) Zinc
B) Copper
C) Iron
D) Gold
E) Lead
33. A non-metal used in making semiconductors is:
A) Oxygen
B) Silicon
C) Sulfur
D) Phosphorus
E) Nitrogen
34. Which of these metals is used for galvanization?
A) Copper
B) Aluminum
C) Iron
D) Zinc
E) Silver
35. Which non-metal is liquid at room temperature?
A) Nitrogen
B) Oxygen
C) Chlorine
D) Bromine
E) Iodine
36. Which metal is used in thermometers?
A) Mercury
B) Iron
C) Lead
D) Copper
E) Zinc
37. Metals that do not react with dilute acids include:
A) Zinc
B) Iron
C) Copper
D) Magnesium
E) Calcium
38. Which non-metal is essential for protein synthesis in plants?
A) Oxygen
B) Carbon
C) Nitrogen
D) Sulfur
E) Phosphorus
39. Which metal is the best conductor of electricity?
A) Copper
B) Gold
C) Silver
D) Iron
E) Aluminum
40. Non-metals are generally found on the periodic table:
A) On the left side
B) In the center
C) Along the zigzag line
D) On the right side
E) In Group 1 only
Answers and Explanations
1. D – Malleable: Metals can be hammered into sheets.
2. E – Brittle: Non-metals break easily when solid.
3. C – High electrical conductivity: A key trait of metals.
4. C – Chlorine: It's a non-metal gas.
5. A – Mercury: The only metal liquid at room temperature.
6. C – Malleable: Non-metals are not malleable.
7. C – Sodium: Highly reactive, especially with water.
8. B – Ability to form ions: Both can form ions in reactions.
9. D – They form basic oxides: Typical for most metals.
10. C – Graphite: An allotrope of carbon that conducts electricity.
11. C – Lose electrons: Metals lose electrons to form cations.
12. D – Acidic: Non-metal oxides dissolve in water to form acids.
13. B – Copper: Excellent electrical conductor.
14. B – Chlorine: Common disinfectant and non-metal.
15. C – Oxygen: Vital for respiration.
16. D – Aluminum: Lightweight and strong.
17. C – Gold: Very unreactive.
18. B – Carbon (as graphite): Conducts electricity.
19. C – Compounds: Most metals occur as ores.
20. A – Oxides or free elements: Many non-metals are found this way.
21. C – Covalent hydrides: Non-metals form covalent bonds with hydrogen.
22. C – Iron: Does not react readily with cold water.
23. C – Salt and hydrogen gas: Classic acid-metal reaction.
24. A – Lithium: Lightest metal.
25. C – Sulfur: Used in rubber vulcanization.
26. B – It rusts: Iron reacts with oxygen and moisture to form rust.
27. C – Potassium: Soft enough to cut.
28. B – Negative ions: Non-metals tend to gain electrons.
29. E – Nitrogen: Used in fertilizers and explosives.
30. E – Carbon: Found in all organic compounds.
31. A – Boron: A metalloid.
32. D – Gold: A noble, unreactive metal.
33. B – Silicon: Widely used in electronics.
34. D – Zinc: Used to galvanize iron.
35. D – Bromine: Only liquid non-metal at room temperature.
36. A – Mercury: Used in older thermometers.
37. C – Copper: Doesn't react with dilute acids.
38. C – Nitrogen: Important for amino acids and proteins.
39. C – Silver: Best conductor of electricity.
40. D – On the right side: Non-metals are located on the right of the periodic table.
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