Educational worksheet on metals and non-metals for ICSE/ISC students.

Let’s go through each question one by one. I’ll explain the answers simply so you can understand and remember them.

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I. Answer the following questions:

1. Name some common non-metals used in our daily life.
→ Oxygen (we breathe it), Carbon (in pencils as graphite), Sulfur (in matches), Nitrogen (in food packaging to keep it fresh), Chlorine (used to clean water).

2. Hardest naturally occurring substance.
→ Diamond. It’s made of carbon atoms arranged in a very strong structure.

3. Property of metals which makes them useful as electric wires.
→ They are good conductors of electricity — meaning electricity flows easily through them.

4. Non-metal which has metallic luster.
→ Iodine. Even though it’s a non-metal, it shines like a metal when solid.

5. Two non-metals which are soft solids.
→ Sulfur and Phosphorus. You can cut or crush them easily.

6. Non-metal that conducts electricity at least except the case “Make it”.
→ Graphite (a form of carbon). It’s the only non-metal that conducts electricity well.

7. An allotrope of carbon which is brittle as steel.
→ Diamond. It’s super hard but also brittle — if you hit it right, it can shatter.

8. Metals that are not attacked by cold water, boiling water or steam.
→ Gold, Silver, Platinum. These are called “noble metals” — they don’t react with water at all.

9. The property of metals by virtue of which they beat into sheets.
→ Malleability. That means you can hammer them flat without breaking.

10. Non-metalic oxide which turns red litmus blue.
→ Ammonia gas (NH₃) dissolves in water to make ammonium hydroxide, which is basic — so it turns red litmus blue. But note: ammonia itself isn’t an oxide. The correct answer here is probably none, because non-metal oxides are usually acidic. Wait — let me double-check… Actually, there’s no common non-metallic oxide that turns red litmus blue. Non-metal oxides like CO₂, SO₂ turn blue litmus red. So this might be a trick question — perhaps the intended answer is ammonia, even though it’s not an oxide. Or maybe it’s a mistake. Let’s say: There is no such non-metallic oxide — most are acidic. But if forced to pick, sometimes teachers accept ammonia solution as behaving like a base. Hmm… Better to say: No common non-metallic oxide does this — they’re mostly acidic.

Wait — correction! There’s actually no standard non-metallic oxide that turns red litmus blue. All common ones (CO₂, SO₂, NO₂) are acidic. So maybe the question has a typo? Or perhaps they mean “non-metal compound”? If we must answer, maybe they expect ammonia, even though it’s not an oxide. I’ll note that.

But for school level, sometimes they accept: Ammonia (though not an oxide) — but strictly speaking, the answer should be: None — non-metal oxides are acidic.

Let’s move on and come back if needed.

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II. Answer the following in one or two words:

1. What are the elements called which can neither fit with metals nor non-metals?
→ Metalloids (like Silicon, Germanium)

2. Which of the following metals is the best conductor of heat and electricity?
Gold, Silver, Copper, Aluminium
→ Silver (best conductor), then copper. So answer: Silver

3. Which property of metals makes them useful as ringing bells?
→ Sonorousness — they make a ringing sound when hit.

4. Arrange the following elements in order of increasing reactivity:
Sodium, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, Aluminum
Reactivity series: Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminum > Zinc > Iron > ... > Copper
So increasing order (least to most reactive):
Copper < Zinc < Aluminum < Magnesium < Sodium

5. An oxide solution of which of the following elements will turn blue litmus red?
Sulphur, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, Aluminium
→ Blue litmus turns red in acid. Non-metal oxides are acidic. Sulphur is a non-metal → its oxide (SO₂) forms acid. Others are metals → their oxides are basic or neutral.
→ Answer: Sulphur

6. Identify the most reactive and least reactive metal amongst the following:
Aluminium, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Gold
Most reactive: Potassium (very high in reactivity series)
Least reactive: Gold (doesn’t react with air or water)

7. State the nature of non-metal oxides.
→ Acidic (they form acids when dissolved in water)

8. Give an example of neutral oxide.
→ Carbon monoxide (CO) or Water (H₂O) — both don’t change litmus color. Common answer: Carbon monoxide

9. Which non-metal is kept under water and why?
→ White phosphorus. It catches fire in air, so stored under water to prevent contact with oxygen.

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Now, going back to Question 10 in Part I:
“Non-metalic oxide which turns red litmus blue.”
As discussed, non-metal oxides are generally acidic → turn blue litmus red.
There is NO common non-metallic oxide that turns red litmus blue.
But if the question meant “non-metal compound”, then ammonia (NH₃) is basic.
However, since it says “oxide”, the correct scientific answer is: There is none.
But for school purposes, sometimes they expect: Ammonia — even though it’s wrong.
I think better to write: None — non-metal oxides are acidic.

But let’s check online or standard books — actually, no non-metallic oxide is basic. So I’ll stick with: None

Alternatively, maybe they meant “which non-metal’s oxide...” — still same thing.

Perhaps it’s a trick — and the answer is none.

I’ll put: None (non-metal oxides are acidic)

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Final Answers:

Part I:

1. Oxygen, Carbon, Sulfur, Nitrogen, Chlorine
2. Diamond
3. Electrical conductivity
4. Iodine
5. Sulfur, Phosphorus
6. Graphite
7. Diamond
8. Gold, Silver, Platinum
9. Malleability
10. None (non-metal oxides are acidic) — *or if required, Ammonia (but not an oxide)*

Part II:

1. Metalloids
2. Silver
3. Sonorousness
4. Copper, Zinc, Aluminum, Magnesium, Sodium
5. Sulphur
6. Most reactive: Potassium; Least reactive: Gold
7. Acidic
8. Carbon monoxide (or Water)
9. White phosphorus — to prevent it from catching fire in air

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Final Answer:
Part I:
1. Oxygen, Carbon, Sulfur, Nitrogen, Chlorine
2. Diamond
3. Electrical conductivity
4. Iodine
5. Sulfur, Phosphorus
6. Graphite
7. Diamond
8. Gold, Silver, Platinum
9. Malleability
10. None (non-metal oxides are acidic)

Part II:
1. Metalloids
2. Silver
3. Sonorousness
4. Copper, Zinc, Aluminum, Magnesium, Sodium
5. Sulphur
6. Most reactive: Potassium; Least reactive: Gold
7. Acidic
8. Carbon monoxide
9. White phosphorus — to prevent combustion in air