Class 10 Science - Chapter Metals and Non-Metals NCERT Solutions | What are alloys?

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.

Write equations for the reactions of

   (i) iron with steam
   (ii) calcium and potassium with water.

(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?

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.

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.

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 more reactive than tin.
(d) zinc is less reactive than tin.

Metallic oxides of zinc, magnesium and copper were heated with the following metals.

In which cases will you find displacement reactions taking place?

Why do ionic compounds have high melting points?

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?

Why is sodium kept immersed in kerosene oil?

Did Döbereiner’s triads also exist in the columns of Newlands’ Octaves? Compare and find out.

What is a good source of energy?

Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multi-cellular organisms like humans?

What are trophic levels? Give an example of a food chain and state the different trophic levels in it.

What changes can you make in your habits to become more environment-friendly?

What is the difference between a reflex action and walking?

What is the importance of DNA copying in reproduction?

If a trait A exists in 10% of a population of an asexually reproducing species and a trait B exists in 60% of the same population, which trait is likely to have arisen earlier?

Why should a magnesium ribbon be cleared before burning in air?

Define the principal focus of a concave mirror.

What kind of mirror – concave, convex or plain – would be best suited for use in a solar cooker? Why?

Explain the following terms with one example each.

(a) Corrosion
(b) Rancidity

What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?

List two methods of producing magnetic fields.

What are the qualities of an ideal source of energy?

Why is variation beneficial to the species but not necessarily for the individual?

Outline a project which aims to find the dominant coat colour in dogs.

What are the changes seen in girls at the time of puberty?

What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?

Under what soil condition do you think a farmer would treat the soil of his fields with quick lime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or chalk (calcium carbonate)?