Chemistry · General Awareness

Chemistry of Metals and Alloys

1,762 Questions

Review the physical and chemical properties of various metals and their common alloys. This collection covers industrial applications, metallurgical processes, and practical uses of elements like silicon and boron. Practice these questions to strengthen your chemistry fundamentals for exams.

Properties of metalsCommon alloysIndustrial metallurgyChemical applications

Chemistry of Metals and Alloys Questions

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

Metals tend to form:

  1. cations

  2. anions

  3. cations and anions

  4. do not form ions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Metals lose electrons in bonding whilst non-metals gain electrons during ionic bonding hence metals form cations and non-metals form anions. It is difficult for a non metal such as oxygen to lose 6 electrons to form a cation since it would need a lot of energy. When it comes to metals it is also difficult to gain that much elecrons since as electrons are added the effective nuclear charge increases each time.

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

What are the properties of a metal?

  1. Malleable

  2. Ductile

  3. Form acidic oxides

  4. Conductor
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,B,D Correct answer
Explanation

Metals are hard and can be casted into thin sheets and wired example Al, iron etc. Therefore they are malleable and ductile respectively.
The valence electrons in metals are delocalized over several atoms that makes them good conductors. Metals react with oxygen to form oxides as:
$Ca+O _2 \rightarrow CaO$
these oxides reacts with water to yield metal hydroxide as:
$CaO+H _2O \rightarrow Ca(OH) _2$
Metal hydroxides are strong bases as they form hydroxide ions and the ion of the particular metal that it is made up of in aqueous phase. Example: When $Ca(OH) _2$ is dissolved in water, it forms two $OH^-$ ions and $Ca^{ 2+ }$ ions. therefore metal oxides are basic.
option A,B, ,D are correct

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

Which of the following metal can be cut with the knife?

  1. Gold

  2. Potassium

  3. Iron

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sodium, potassium, lithium are soft metals and can be easily cut. It is the secong least dense metal after lithium. It is a soft solid that has a low melting point and can be cut with knife while iron and gold are hard and dense metals which are melleable and ductile.

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

The property of metals producing a ringing sound when struck is called :

  1. sonority

  2. permeability

  3. ductility

  4. malleability
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sonority (of a material) is the property of producing a ringing sound when struck. Most metals are sonorous. Therefore, they are used in many instruments (eg. cymbals and bells). Almost all non-metals are non-sonorous, i.e. they don't produce a ringing sound when struck.


Hence, the correct option is $\text{A}$

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

A metal which is brittle in nature:

  1. zinc

  2. hydrogen

  3. sodium

  4. mercury
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Metals are a common type of ductile material. Copper, aluminum, and steel are examples of ductile metals. The opposite of ductility is brittleness, where a material breaks when tensile stress is applied to lengthen it. Examples of brittle materials include cast iron, concrete, and some glass products. Zinc is relatively more brittle than others.

The correct option is A.

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

Which of the following metals is soft in nature?

  1. Platinum

  2. Iron

  3. Aluminium

  4. Sodium
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sodium is the soft silvery metal at standard temperature and pressure. It can be readily cut with a knife as it is very soft. When freshly cut sodium has a bright silvery luster. If exposed to air the surface rapidly tarnishes, darkening at first and then forming a white coat of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate.

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

Metals are usually ________ in nature.

  1. soft

  2. hard

  3. data insufficient

  4. none of above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Metals are usually solid in nature. There is less metal that is soft in nature. Some metals are used to make items like coins because they are hard and will not wear away quickly. 


For example aluminium (which is shiny and white), gold (which is yellow and shiny), and silver and nickel (also white and shiny).

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

Which metal is soft in nature?

  1. Sodium

  2. Potassium

  3. Both A and B

  4. None of above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

All the metals are hard in nature. However, both sodium and potassium metals are soft and can be cut using a knife. The bonding in these metals is weak and electrons are not located over a single atom but over a number of atoms.

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

Two substance silver and carbon are thrown into a furnace. Which will melt earlier?

  1. Silver

  2. Carbon

  3. Both will melt together

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Silver is a metal with a relatively low melting point (approx 961 C), whereas carbon (in the form of graphite or diamond) has an extremely high melting point or sublimes at much higher temperatures. Therefore, silver will melt much earlier in a furnace.

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

Out of sulphur and gold, which will be have higher melting point?

  1. Sulphur

  2. Gold

  3. Both have equal melting point

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Gold is a transition metal with a melting point of approximately 1064 C. Sulphur is a non-metal with a much lower melting point of approximately 115 C.

Multiple choice chemistry metals physical properties of metals and non-metals some physical properties of metals general characteristics and uses of metals

Mark the incorrect statement(s).
a) Most of the metals are soft.
b) All metals are equally hard.
c) Sodium is a soft non-metal.

  1. a, b

  2. b, c

  3. a, c

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Most of the metals are hard. But all the metals are not equally hard. The hardness varies from metal to metal. Most of the metals like iron, copper etc. are very hard. Sodium, potassium are exceptions.