Class 10 SEBA Science Chapter 3 Solutions – Metals and Non-Metals (2026–27) | Assam Eduverse
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SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions are prepared by Assam Eduverse strictly according to the latest SEBA / ASSEB syllabus 2026–27. These SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions are created for students searching specifically for SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions that are accurate, updated, and exam-oriented. This page provides complete SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions, making it a trusted source for SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions based on the official SEBA Class 10 Science textbook.
The SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions explain all concepts included in SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions, such as physical and chemical properties of metals and non-metals, reactivity series, extraction of metals, corrosion, prevention of corrosion, and uses of metals and non-metals. These SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions help students understand reactions, equations, and reasoning questions using SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions written in simple and exam-friendly language, following the ASSEB Class 10 Science Chapter 3 solutions format.
With the complete SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions (2026–27), students can prepare SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions for intext questions and SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions for chapter-end textbook exercise questions. These SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solutions include important chemical reactions, extraction methods, corrosion examples, and exam-focused explanations. Assam Eduverse ensures every SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Metals and Non-Metals solution is syllabus-based and exam-focused.
SEBA / ASSEB Class 10 Science Chapter 3 – Metals and Non-Metals Intext Questions & Answers (Latest Syllabus 2026–27)
Page 40
Q1. Give an example of a metal which:
(a) is a liquid at room temperature.
(b) can be easily cut with a knife.
(c) is the best conductor of heat.
(d) is a poor conductor of heat.
Answer:
(a) Mercury (Hg)
(b) Sodium (Na)
(c) Silver (Ag)
(d) Lead (Pb)
Q2. Explain the meanings of malleable and ductile.
Answer:
Malleable: Metals that can be beaten into thin sheets. E.g., gold and silver.
Ductile: Metals that can be drawn into wires. E.g., copper and aluminium.
Page 46
Q1. Why is sodium kept immersed in kerosene oil?
Answer: Sodium is highly reactive and reacts vigorously with air and moisture. To prevent accidental combustion or explosion, it is stored in kerosene.
Q2. Write equations for the reactions of:
(a) Iron with steam
(b) Calcium and potassium with water
Answer:
(a) 3Fe + 4H₂O (steam) → Fe₃O₄ + 4H₂↑
(b) Ca + 2H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ + H₂↑
2K + 2H₂O → 2KOH + H₂↑
Q3. Samples of four metals A, B, C, and D were taken and added to solutions of ZnSO₄, FeSO₄, CuSO₄, and AgNO₃. The observations are:
A displaces B and C, but not D.
B displaces C but not A or D.
C does not displace any metal.
D displaces all.
Arrange the metals in the order of increasing reactivity.
Answer: C < B < A < D
Q4. Which gas is produced when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to a reactive metal? Write the equation.
Answer: Hydrogen gas is released.
E.g., Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂↑
Q5. What would you observe when zinc is added to a solution of iron (II) sulphate? Write the equation.
Answer: Zinc displaces iron from iron (II) sulphate because it is more reactive.
Zn + FeSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Fe
Page 49
Q1. How do you prevent corrosion of iron?
Answer:
By painting
Galvanisation (coating with zinc)
Oiling or greasing
Using anti-rust sprays
Q2. What type of oxides are formed by metals and non-metals?
Answer:
Metals form basic oxides (e.g., Na₂O, MgO)
Non-metals form acidic oxides (e.g., SO₂, CO₂)
Page 51
Q1. (i) Write the electron-dot structures for sodium, oxygen and magnesium.
(ii) Show the formation of Na₂O and MgO by the transfer of electrons.
(iii) What are the ions present in these compounds?
Answer
(ii) Formation of Na₂O and MgO:
(iii) Ions present:
In Na₂O: Na⁺ and O²⁻
In MgO: Mg²⁺ and O²⁻
Q2. Why do ionic compounds have high melting points?
Answer:
Ionic compounds have high melting points because they are made of positively and negatively charged ions held together by strong electrostatic forces. A large amount of energy is required to overcome these forces to break the bonds between ions, hence the high melting point.
Page 53
Q1. Define the following terms:
(i) Mineral
(ii) Ore
(iii) Gangue
Answer:
(i) Mineral:
A mineral is a naturally occurring substance that contains a metal or its compound in the form of ores. These are found in the earth’s crust and may or may not be economically viable to extract metals from.
(ii) Ore:
An ore is a mineral from which a metal can be extracted profitably and easily. Not all minerals are ores, but all ores are minerals.
(iii) Gangue:
Gangue refers to the unwanted impurities such as sand, soil, or rock that are present along with the ore. These impurities must be removed before extracting the metal.
Q2. Name two metals which are found in nature in the free state.
Answer:
Two metals that are found in nature in the free (native) state are:
Gold (Au)
Platinum (Pt)
These metals are very unreactive and do not combine with other elements under natural conditions.
Q3. What chemical process is used for obtaining a metal from its oxide?
Answer:
The chemical process used to obtain a metal from its oxide is called reduction.
In this process, the metal oxide is heated with a reducing agent such as carbon (coke) or carbon monoxide, which removes the oxygen and leaves behind the pure metal.
Example:
Here, iron(III) oxide is reduced to iron using carbon.
Page 55
Q1. Metallic oxides of zinc, magnesium and copper were heated with the following metals :
| Metal | Zinc | Magnesium | Copper | |
| 1. | Zinc oxide | |||
| 2. | Magnesium oxide | |||
| 3. | Copper oxide |
In which cases will you find displacement reactions taking place ?
Answer:
A more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its oxide. But out of zinc, magnesium, and copper metals, magnesium is the most reactive, zinc is less reactive whereas copper is the least reactive metal.
The displacement will take place in the following cases :
| Metal | Zinc | Magnesium | Copper | |
| 1. | Zinc oxide | – | Displacement | – |
| 2. | Magnesium oxide | – | – | – |
| 3. | Copper oxide | Displacement | Displacement | – |
Q.2 Which metals do not corrode easily ?
Answer:
Gold and Platinum.
Q3. What are alloys ?
Answer:
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal. For example, bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
SEBA Class 10 Science Chapter 3 – Metals and Non-Metals Textbook Exercise Questions & Solutions | 2026–27
Q1. Which of the following pairs will give displacement reactions ?
(a) NaCl solution and copper metal.
(b) MgCl2 solution and aluminium metal.
(c) FeSO4 solution and silver metal.
(d) AgNO3 solution and copper metal.
Answer:
(d) AgNO3 solution and copper metal.
Q2. Which of the following methods is suitable for preventing an iron frying pan from rusting ?
(a) Applying grease
(b) Applying paint.
(c) Applying a coating of zinc
(d) All the above.
Answer:
(c) Applying a coating of zinc.
Q3. An element reacts with oxygen to give a compound with a high melting point. This compound is also soluble in water. The element is likely to be
(a) calcium
(b) carbon
(c) silicon
(d) iron
Answer:
(a) Calcium.
Q4. Food cans are coated with tin and not with zinc because
(a) zinc is costlier than tin
(b) zinc has a higher melting point than tin
(c) zinc is less reactive than tin
(d) zinc is more reactive than tin.
Answer:
(d) Zinc is more reactive than tin.
Q5. 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.
Answer:
(a) Metals can be beaten into thin sheets with a hammer without breaking. Non-metals cannot be beaten with a hammer to form thin sheets. Non-metals break into pieces when hammered. Metals are malleable, while non-metals are non-melleable. When metals are connected into circuit using a battery, bulb, wires and switch, current passes through the circuit and the bulb glows. When non-metals (like sulphur) are connected, the bulb does not light up at all. Metals are good conductors of electricity.
(b) Because of malleability, metals can be casted into sheets. Metals are good conductors of electricity so these can be used for electrical cables.
Q6. What are amphoteric oxides ? Give two examples of amphoteric oxides ?
Answer:
Those metal oxides which show basic as well as acidic behaviour are known as amphoteric oxides. In other words, metal oxides that react wtih both acids and bases to form salt and water are called amphoteric oxides. Aluminium oxide and zinc oxide are amphoteric in nature.
Q7. Name two metals which will displace hydrogen from dilute acids and two metals which will not.
Answer:
(i) Metals above hydrogen in the activity series like sodium and magnesium displace hydrogen from dilute acids.
(ii) Metals below hydrogen in the activity series like copper, silver do not displace hydrogen from dilute acids.
Q8. In the electrolytic refining of a metal M, what would you take as the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte ?
Answer:
Cathode – Pure metal
Anode – Impure metal
Electrolyte – Metal salt solution
Q9. 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 the figure.
(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.
Answer:
(i) Dry litmus paper – no action.
(ii) Moist litmus paper – becomes red.
Q10. State two ways to prevent the rusting of iron.
Answer:
Ways to prevent rusting of iron are :
(a) By painting
(b) By galvanizing
Q11. What type of oxides are formed when non-metals combine with oxygen ?
Answer:
Non-metals combine with oxygen to form acidic oxides or neutral oxides.
Q12. 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.
Answer:
(a) Platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery because these are malleable and ductile. These are highly resistant to corrosion.
(b) Sodium, potassium and lithium are very reactive and catch fire when exposed to air. This is due to their low ignition temperature and high reactivity.
(c) Aluminium forms a non-reactive layer of aluminium oxide on its surface. This layer prevents aluminium to react with other substances. That’s why aluminium is used to make cooking utensils.
(d) It is easier to reduce a metal oxide into free metal. Since it is easier to obtain metals from their oxides than from their carbonates or sulphides directly, therefore, the carbonate and sulphide ores are first converted to oxides for extracting the metals.
Q13. 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.
Answer:
The sour substances such as lemon or tamarind juice contain acids. These acids dissolve the coating of copper oxide or basic copper carbonate present on the surface of tarnished copper vessels and makes them shining red-brown again.
Q14. Differentiate between metal and non-metal on the basis of their chemical properties.
Answer:
Difference between metals and non-metals
| Metals | Non-metals |
| (i) Metals form basic oxides or amphoteric oxides. | (i) Non-metals form acidic or neutral oxides. |
| (ii) Metals replace hydrogen from acids and form salts. | (ii) Non-metals do not replace hydrogen from acids. |
| (iii) With chlorine, metals form chlorides which are electrovalent. | (iii) With chlorine, non-metals form chlorides which are covalent. |
| (iv) With hydrogen few metals form hydrides which are electrovalent. | (iv) With hydrogen, non-metals form many stable hydrides which are covalent. |
Q15. 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 repeat. Can you play the detective to find out the nature of the solution he has used ?
Answer:
The dishonest goldsmith dipped the gold bangles in aqua-regia (which contains 1 part of concentrated nitric acid and 3 parts of concentrated hydrochloric acid, by volume). Aqua-regia dissolved a considerable amount of gold from gold bangles and hence reduced their weight drastically. The dishonest goldsmith can recover the dissolved gold from aqua-regia by a suitable treatment.
Q16. Give reasons why copper is used to make hot water tanks and not steel (alloy of iron).
Answer:
(i) Copper is a better conductor of heat than steel.
(ii) Copper does not corrode easily. But steel corrodes easily.
(iii) Copper does not react with water at any temperature, whereas iron reacts with water on heating.
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