NCERT Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Notes Metals And Non-Metals: Download PDF Notes

NCERT Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Notes Metals And Non-Metals: Download PDF Notes

Edited By Shivani Poonia | Updated on Apr 08, 2025 12:43 AM IST

Metals and non-metals play a very important part in daily life. They are fundamental elements which make up almost everything around us, from the air we breathe to the long buildings. Have you ever wondered why gold shines so much while other elements are dull, how the steel used in your cycle is so strong, and why oxygen is essential for daily life? The answer to all these questions lies in Metals and Non-metals. Metals are everywhere around us from the iron used in construction to the aluminium foil used to wrap food while Non-metals like oxygen and carbon are essential for breathing and fuel.

This Story also Contains
  1. NCERT Notes for Class 10 Chapter 3 Metals and Non-metals
  2. Metals and Non-metals Previous Year Question and Answer
  3. Class 10 Science: Chapter Wise Notes
  4. NCERT Solutions of Class 10 Subject Wise
  5. NCERT Class 10 Exemplar Solutions
NCERT Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Notes Metals And Non-Metals: Download PDF Notes
NCERT Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Notes Metals And Non-Metals: Download PDF Notes

Class 10 Science Metals and Non Metals play a very important role in CBSE board and competitive exams like JEE, NEET, etc. It becomes difficult for students to learn all the concepts in one reading from the NCERT book So, our NCERT notes are revision notes on the Class 10 NCERT chapter: metal and non-metal. Careers360 provides CBSE Class 10 notes for other subjects as well. The Class 10 metal and non-metal revision notes are provided to revise all the important concepts given in Metals and non-metal. Students can utilise the Class 10 science chapter 3 CBSE notes for revision of major concepts while preparing for the CBSE Class 10 exam. CBSE notes for Class 10 are helpful for CBSE board exam preparation.

Class 10 Science Chapter 3 Notes will help students clear doubts that arise during solving problems and create a clear overview of the concept. The NCERT notes of Class 10 science Metals and Non-Metals provided in this article are based on the Class 10 CBSE Science syllabus. NCERT notes are going to help students ace their exams and score well in them. The notes provided in this article are reliable and can be followed by the students for better understanding and doubt clearance.

The NCERT Class 10 Science Chapter 3 notes give you a basic idea of the key features of metals and non-metals. The topics covered in NCERT Class 10 Science notes are:

3.1 Physical properties

3.2 Chemical properties

3.3 How do metals and Non- metals reacts

3.4 Occurrence of metals

3.5 Corrosion

Also, students can refer to

NCERT Notes for Class 10 Chapter 3 Metals and Non-metals

3.1 Physical Properties

Physical properties are those characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without change in its chemical composition. These properties help identify and describe matter.

3.1.1 Metals:
Metals are elements that are generally hard, shiny, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. Metals tend to lose electrons to form positive ions in chemical reactions.

Lustre: Metals are shining in nature.

Hardness: hard in nature. But an exception exists for Na, Li, and K; they are soft and able to be cut with a knife.

State: Metals exist in a solid state except in the case of mercury, which is liquid at room temperature.

Malleability: the property of metal through which we can make sheets of metal with the use of a hammer. The most malleable metals are gold and silver.

Ductility: The property of metal through which we can make wire.

Conductivity and heating: Metals are conductive in nature and have a good capacity for heating. For example, copper and silver are the best conductors, whereas lead and mercury are the worst conductors.

Density: The density of metals is high, as are their melting points.

Sonorous: Metals are sound-producing in nature when they strike a hard surface.

Oxides: The oxides of metals are basic in nature.

3.1.2 Non-metals
Non-metals are elements that are generally brittle, dull and poor conductors of heat and electricity. They tend to gain electrons during chemical reactions and are usually found in solid, liquis or gaseous states at room temperature.

Lustre: Non-metals are not shining in nature, except in the case of iodine.

Hardness: Soft in nature. But an exception exists for a diamond, which is hardest among all

State: Metals exists in a solid or gaseous state, except in the case of bromine, which is liquid at room temperature.

Malleability: They are non-malleable in nature.

Ductility: They are also non-ductile in nature, as we won’t be able to make wire from non-metals.

Conductivity and heating: Non-metals are insulators, as they don’t have a good capacity of heating as well. Exception in case of Graphite.

Density: The densities of non-metals are low, as are their melting points.

Sonorous: They do not produce any sound when strike the surface.

Oxides: The oxides of non-metals are acidic in nature.

3.2 Chemical Properties of Metals

Metals exhibit characteristic chemical behaviours such as reacting with air, water, acids, and other substances to form new compounds. These reactions often involve the loss of electrons and formation of ions.

3.2.1 What happens when Metals are burnt in Air?

When metals are burnt in air, they react with oxygen to form metal oxides. These oxides are usually basic in nature and show different colours depending on the metal.

Reaction of metals with air:

Metal $+\mathrm{O}_2 \longrightarrow$ Metal oxide

$2 \mathrm{Cu}+3 \mathrm{O}_2 \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{CuO}$

Points to remember:

  • The reaction of metals, especially with oxygen, depends on the reactivity of the metal, as mentioned in the list of reactivity orders.

  • Sodium and potassium are kept inside kerosene as they catch fire when it is exposed to the air and react vigorously with it.

  • For further oxidation of magnesium, aluminium, and zinc, they are covered with a thin layer of oxide so that they can be prevented from further oxidation.

  • Iron filings burn vigorously in nature, but Fe does not.

  • The coating is done on copper with black copper oxide, but still, it does not burn.

  • The reaction of oxygen can not proceed with silver and gold.

The reaction of metals with amphoteric oxides: These are the oxides that react with both acids and bases to produce salts and water and are termed amphoteric oxides.

Amphoteric Oxides

$\mathrm{Al}_2 \mathrm{O}_3+6 \mathrm{HCl} \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{AlCl}_3+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}$

$\mathrm{Al}_2 \mathrm{O}_3+2 \mathrm{NaOH} \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaAlO}_2+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}$

Most metal oxides are insoluble in water but some of these dissolve in water to form alkalis. Sodium oxide and potassium oxide dissolve in water to produce alkalis as follows

$\mathrm{Na}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{s})+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{l}) \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaOH}(\mathrm{aq})$

$\mathrm{K}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{s})+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{l}) \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{KOH}(\mathrm{aq})$

3.2.2 What happens when Metals react with Water?

Metal and water react with each other to form metal oxide and hydrogen gas. Further Metal oxide reacts with water to produce metal hydroxide.

Metal $\quad+$ Water $\rightarrow$ Metal oxide + Hydrogen

Metal oxide + Water $\rightarrow$ Metal hydroxide

Metals like potassium and sodium react violently with cold water. In case of sodium and potassium, the reaction is so violent and exothermic that the evolved hydrogen immediately catches fire.

$\begin{aligned} & 2 \mathrm{~K}(\mathrm{~s})+2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{l}) \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{KOH}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{H}_2(\mathrm{~g})+\text { heat energy } \\ & 2 \mathrm{Na}(\mathrm{s})+2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{l}) \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaOH}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{H}_2(\mathrm{~g})+\text { heat energy }\end{aligned}$

The reaction of calcium with water is less violent. The heat evolved is not sufficient for the hydrogen to catch fire.

$\mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{s})+2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{l}) \rightarrow \mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_2(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{H}_2(\mathrm{~g})$

Metals like aluminium, iron and zinc do not react either with cold or hot water. But they react with steam to form the metal oxide and hydrogen

$\begin{aligned} & 2 \mathrm{Al}(\mathrm{s})+3 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g}) \rightarrow \mathrm{Al}_2 \mathrm{O}_3(\mathrm{~s})+3 \mathrm{H}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \\ & 3 \mathrm{Fe}(\mathrm{s})+4 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g}) \rightarrow \mathrm{Fe}_3 \mathrm{O}_4(\mathrm{~s})+4 \mathrm{H}_2(\mathrm{~g})\end{aligned}$

Metals such as lead, copper, silver and gold do not react with water at all

3.2.3 What happens when Metals react with Acids?

When metals react with acids, they produce a salt and hydrogen gas. The rate of reaction depends on the metal’s reactivity.

In the case of copper, silver, and mercury, they do not react with dilute acids.

$\mathrm{Fe}+2 \mathrm{HCl} \longrightarrow \mathrm{FeCl}_2+\mathrm{H}_2$

3.2.4 How do Metals react with Solutions of other Metal Salts?

Let us suppose that metal A reacts with another salt solution B to produce a salt solution of metal A and metal B.

The displacement of elements depends upon the reactivity series of metals; the more reactive the metal, the more it displaces the less reactive one.

$\mathrm{Fe}+\mathrm{CuSO}_4 \longrightarrow \mathrm{FeSO}_4+\mathrm{Cu}$

3.2.5 The Reactivity Series

The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged in the order of their decreasing activities. After performing displacement experiments the reactivity or activity series has been developed.

3.3 How do metals and non-metals react?

3.3 How do Metals and Non-metals React?

Metals and non-metals react through ionic bonding, where metals lose electrons to form positively charged ions and non-metals gain electrons to form negatively charged ions. These oppositely charged ions attract each other to form ionic compounds, such as sodium chloride. When an electron comes out of the shell, it forms the cation, which is a property of metal elements; on the other hand, when an electron is gained by a valence shell, it forms the anion, which is a property of the non-metal element.

Electronic configuration of some elements

Let us see the formation of one ionic compound, magnesium chloride

3.3.1 Properties of Ionic Compounds

The formation of an ionic compound is done by the transfer of electrons. Electrons from metals transfer to non-metals and are called ionic compounds, also known as electrovalent compounds.

Properties:

  • Physical nature of ionic compounds: They are brittle, solid, and hard compounds.

  • Melting and boiling points: Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points.

  • Solubility: Ionic compounds are insoluble in a solution of kerosene, petrol, etc., whereas they are soluble in water.

  • The conductivity of ionic compounds: ionic compounds are conductive in the molten state but not in the solid state.

3.4 Occurrence of Metals

Metals occur in nature either in their free state or as compounds n ores. Their occurrence depends on their reactivity.

  • Minerals: Elements or compounds that are found in nature or in the earth’s crust naturally are termed minerals.

  • Ores: Those minerals that contain a very high percentage of a particular metal, and those metals that can also be extracted from that mineral, are called ores.

3.4.1 Extraction of Metals

A metal is extracted from its ore. Some metals are found in the earth’s crust in the free state. Some are found in the form of their compounds. The metals at the bottom of the activity series are the least reactive. They are often found in a free state.

For example

  • Gold, silver, platinum and copper are found in the free state.
  • Copper and silver are also found in the combined state as their sulphide or oxide ores.
  • The metals at the top of the activity series (K, Na, Ca, Mg and Al) are so reactive that they are never found in nature as free elements.
  • The metals in the middle of the activity series (Zn, Fe, Pb, etc.) are moderately reactive.

1649411405088

3.4.2 Enrichment of Ores

Ores mined from the earth are usually contaminated with large amounts of impurities such as soil, sand, etc., called gangue. The impurities must be removed from the ore prior to the extraction of the metal. The processes used for removing the gangue from the ore are based on the differences between the physical or chemical properties of the gangue and the ore.

Different separation techniques are accordingly employed.

3.4.3 Extracting Metals Low in the Activity Series

Metals low in the activity series are very unreactive. The oxides of these metals can be reduced to metals by heating alone.

For example, cinnabar (HgS) is an ore of mercury. When it is heated in air, it is first converted into mercuric oxide (HgO). Mercuric oxide is then reduced to mercury on further heating.

$2 \mathrm{HgS}(\mathrm{s})+3 \mathrm{O}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \xrightarrow{\text { Heat }} 2 \mathrm{HgO}(\mathrm{s})+2 \mathrm{SO}_2(\mathrm{~g})$

$2 \mathrm{HgO}(\mathrm{s}) \xrightarrow{\text { Heat }} 2 \mathrm{Hg}(\mathrm{l})+\mathrm{O}_2(\mathrm{~g})$

Copper which is found as Cu2S in nature can be obtained from its ore by just heating in air.

$\begin{aligned} & 2 \mathrm{Cu}_2 \mathrm{~S}+3 \mathrm{O}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \xrightarrow{\text { Heat }} 2 \mathrm{Cu}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{s})+2 \mathrm{SO}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \\ & 2 \mathrm{Cu}_2 \mathrm{O}+\mathrm{Cu}_2 \mathrm{~S} \xrightarrow{\text { Heat }} 6 \mathrm{Cu}(\mathrm{s})+\mathrm{SO}_2(\mathrm{~g})\end{aligned}$

3.4.4 Extracting Metals in the Middle of the Activity Series

Metals like iron, zinc, lead, and copper are moderately reactive and usually found as sulphides or carbonates. Since it is easier to extract metals from their oxides, these ores are first converted into oxides.

The sulphide ores are converted into oxides by heating strongly in the presence of excess air. This process is known as roasting. The carbonate ores are changed into oxides by heating strongly in limited air. This process is known as calcination.

Roasting

$2 \mathrm{ZnS}(\mathrm{s})+3 \mathrm{O}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \xrightarrow{\text { Heat }} 2 \mathrm{ZnO}(\mathrm{s})+2 \mathrm{SO}_2(\mathrm{~g})$

Calcination

$\mathrm{ZnCO}_3(\mathrm{~s}) \xrightarrow{\text { Heat }} \mathrm{ZnO}(\mathrm{s})+\mathrm{CO}_2(\mathrm{~g})$

The metal oxides are then reduced to the corresponding metals by using suitable reducing agents such as carbon. For example, when zinc oxide is heated with carbon, it is reduced to metallic zinc.

$\mathrm{ZnO}(\mathrm{s})+\mathrm{C}(\mathrm{s}) \rightarrow \mathrm{Zn}(\mathrm{s})+\mathrm{CO}(\mathrm{g})$

Besides using carbon to reduce metal oxides to metals, sometimes displacement reactions can also be used. The highly reactive metals such as sodium, calcium, aluminium, etc., are used as reducing agents because they can displace metals of lower reactivity from their compounds. For example, when manganese dioxide is heated with aluminium powder, the following reaction takes place:

$3 \mathrm{MnO}_2(\mathrm{~s})+4 \mathrm{Al}(\mathrm{s}) \rightarrow 3 \mathrm{Mn}(\mathrm{l})+2 \mathrm{Al}_2 \mathrm{O}_3(\mathrm{~s})+$ Heat

3.4.5 Extracting Metals towards the Top of the Activity Series

Highly reactive metals like sodium, magnesium, calcium and aluminium cannot be extracted by carbon reduction due to their strong affinity for oxygen. They are obtained by electrolytic reduction of their moltern chlorides.

At cathode $\mathrm{Na}^{+}+\mathrm{e}^{-} \rightarrow \mathrm{Na}$

At anode $\quad 2 \mathrm{Cl}^{-} \rightarrow \mathrm{Cl}_2+2 \mathrm{e}^{-}$

3.4.6 Refining of Metals

Electrolytic refining is the most extensively used method for refining.

This method is used for impure metals and refining metals.

On Anode: Impure Copper

On Cathode: Strip of pure Copper

On electrolyte: Solution of acidified Copper sulphate.

When current passes through the electrolyte, the metal that is impure on the anode will dissolve in the electrolyte.

At the cathode, the pure metal will be deposited of an equivalent amount.

The anode mud is settled down in the tank; those are insoluble impurities.

1649411408434

3.5 Corrosion

Corrosion can be defined as when the surface of metals is exposed to mist air for a longer period of time, then that surface is corroded, and the phenomenon is termed corrosion.

Corrosion is usually an undesirable phenomenon since it negatively affects the desirable properties of the metal. For example, iron is known to have good tensile strength and rigidity. However, when subjected to rusting, iron objects become brittle, flaky, and structurally unsound. On the other hand, corrosion is a diffusion-controlled process, and it mostly occurs on exposed surfaces. Therefore, in some cases, attempts are made to reduce the activity of the exposed surface and increase a material’s corrosion resistance. Processes such as passivation and chromate conversion are used for this purpose. However, some corrosion mechanisms are not always visible, and they are even less predictable.

Examples: When silver is exposed to air, it reacts with the air to become black.

3.5.1 Prevention of Corrosion

The rusting of iron can be prevented by painting, oiling, greasing, galvanising, chrome plating, anodising or making alloys.

1. Painting - A coat of paint prevents direct contact of metal with air and moisture.

2. Oiling and Greasing - Lubricants form a protective layer that prevents moisture and air from reaching the metal surface.

3. . Galvanisation - Galvanisation is a method of protecting steel and iron from rusting by coating them with a thin layer of zinc. The galvanised article is protected against rusting even if the zinc coating is broken.

4. Electroplating - A thin layer of a less reactive metal (like chromium or nickel) is deposited on a metal surface using electricity.

5. Alloying - Mixing metals with other elements to form an alloy that is more resistant to corrosion.

6. Anodising - Anodising aluminium forms a thick oxide layer that protects it from further oxidation.

7. Cathodic Protection - The metal to be protected is connected to a more reactive metal like magnesium, which corrodes instead.

Metals and Non-metals Previous Year Question and Answer

Question : Assertion (A) : Brass is prepared by first melting copper and then dissolving tin into it in a definite proportion.
Reason (R) : The primary metal of brass is copper.

(1) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(2) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

(3) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

(4) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Answer :

According to the Assertion (A), copper is melted, and then tin is added. This turns metal into brass.
Reason (R) says that copper is the main metal in brass.

Brass is made of copper and zinc, not copper and tin. Copper and tin are mixed together to make bronze.

This shows that the assertion is false, and the reason that brass is mostly made of copper is true.

Hence, the correct answer is Option (4)

Question: Assertion (A): Alloys are commonly used in electrical heating devices like electric iron and heater.
Reason (R): Resistivity of an alloy is generally higher than that of its constituent metals but the alloys have low melting points then their constituent metals.

(1) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is correct explanation of the assertion.

(2) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

(3) (A) is true but (R) is false.

(4) (A) is false but (R) is true.

Answer:

1. Alloys are commonly used in electrical heating devices like electric irons and heaters.

2. The resistivity of an alloy is generally higher than that of its constituent metals but if the alloys have low melting points then their constituent metals are a false statement.

Therefore, A is true but R is false.

Hence, the correct answer is option (3).

Question: Arrange the following elements as they are arranged in the reactivity series :
Aluminium, Calcium, Copper, Lead

Answer:

Reactivity Series in simplified order for the given elements:

Thus, the correct order is,
Calcium $(\mathrm{Ca})>$ Aluminum $(\mathrm{Al})>$ Lead $(\mathrm{Pb})>$ Copper $(\mathrm{Cu})$

Class 10 Science: Chapter Wise Notes

NCERT Solutions of Class 10 Subject Wise

NCERT Class 10 Exemplar Solutions

CBSE Class 10 Books and Syllabus

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. According to metals and non-metals , we studied metals and non-metals and their relative properties, give an example of metal which can easily be cut with a knife and non-metal which is the hardest substance.

Sodium is a metal that is soft and can be cut with a knife, and the diamond form of carbon is the hardest substance.

2. which metal is most abundant in earth’s crust?

The most abundant metal found in the earth’s crust is Aluminium.

3. What is the difference between calcination and roasting?

The main basic difference between calcination and roasting is, calcination is done in absence of air whereas roasting is in excess of air.

4. Which non-metal can conduct electricity?

The non-metal which conducts electricity is Graphite.

5. We studied electro- refining in that which substance will act as the anode.

An impure metal plate will act as the anode.

Articles

Upcoming School Exams

View All School Exams

A block of mass 0.50 kg is moving with a speed of 2.00 ms-1 on a smooth surface. It strikes another mass of 1.00 kg and then they move together as a single body. The energy loss during the collision is

Option 1)

0.34\; J

Option 2)

0.16\; J

Option 3)

1.00\; J

Option 4)

0.67\; J

A person trying to lose weight by burning fat lifts a mass of 10 kg upto a height of 1 m 1000 times.  Assume that the potential energy lost each time he lowers the mass is dissipated.  How much fat will he use up considering the work done only when the weight is lifted up ?  Fat supplies 3.8×107 J of energy per kg which is converted to mechanical energy with a 20% efficiency rate.  Take g = 9.8 ms−2 :

Option 1)

2.45×10−3 kg

Option 2)

 6.45×10−3 kg

Option 3)

 9.89×10−3 kg

Option 4)

12.89×10−3 kg

 

An athlete in the olympic games covers a distance of 100 m in 10 s. His kinetic energy can be estimated to be in the range

Option 1)

2,000 \; J - 5,000\; J

Option 2)

200 \, \, J - 500 \, \, J

Option 3)

2\times 10^{5}J-3\times 10^{5}J

Option 4)

20,000 \, \, J - 50,000 \, \, J

A particle is projected at 600   to the horizontal with a kinetic energy K. The kinetic energy at the highest point

Option 1)

K/2\,

Option 2)

\; K\;

Option 3)

zero\;

Option 4)

K/4

In the reaction,

2Al_{(s)}+6HCL_{(aq)}\rightarrow 2Al^{3+}\, _{(aq)}+6Cl^{-}\, _{(aq)}+3H_{2(g)}

Option 1)

11.2\, L\, H_{2(g)}  at STP  is produced for every mole HCL_{(aq)}  consumed

Option 2)

6L\, HCl_{(aq)}  is consumed for ever 3L\, H_{2(g)}      produced

Option 3)

33.6 L\, H_{2(g)} is produced regardless of temperature and pressure for every mole Al that reacts

Option 4)

67.2\, L\, H_{2(g)} at STP is produced for every mole Al that reacts .

How many moles of magnesium phosphate, Mg_{3}(PO_{4})_{2} will contain 0.25 mole of oxygen atoms?

Option 1)

0.02

Option 2)

3.125 × 10-2

Option 3)

1.25 × 10-2

Option 4)

2.5 × 10-2

If we consider that 1/6, in place of 1/12, mass of carbon atom is taken to be the relative atomic mass unit, the mass of one mole of a substance will

Option 1)

decrease twice

Option 2)

increase two fold

Option 3)

remain unchanged

Option 4)

be a function of the molecular mass of the substance.

With increase of temperature, which of these changes?

Option 1)

Molality

Option 2)

Weight fraction of solute

Option 3)

Fraction of solute present in water

Option 4)

Mole fraction.

Number of atoms in 558.5 gram Fe (at. wt.of Fe = 55.85 g mol-1) is

Option 1)

twice that in 60 g carbon

Option 2)

6.023 × 1022

Option 3)

half that in 8 g He

Option 4)

558.5 × 6.023 × 1023

A pulley of radius 2 m is rotated about its axis by a force F = (20t - 5t2) newton (where t is measured in seconds) applied tangentially. If the moment of inertia of the pulley about its axis of rotation is 10 kg m2 , the number of rotations made by the pulley before its direction of motion if reversed, is

Option 1)

less than 3

Option 2)

more than 3 but less than 6

Option 3)

more than 6 but less than 9

Option 4)

more than 9

Back to top