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Metals and Non-Metals

Class 10 Science • Previous Year Questions

Important: CBSE's official question-paper archive provides complete Class 10 Science examination papers. Individual questions are not consistently tagged chapter-wise in the official archive, so only verified material is labelled as official practice or previous-year material.

Official CBSE Previous Year Papers

Class 10 Science – 2026

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Class 10 Science – 2025

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Class 10 Science – 2024

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Class 10 Science – 2023

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Class 10 Science – 2022

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Chapter-Focused Practice

Practice Question 1
Arrange the following metals in decreasing order of reactivity: Zn, Cu, Fe and Mg.
Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu.
Practice Question 2
Why can zinc displace copper from copper sulphate solution?
Zinc is more reactive than copper and is placed above copper in the reactivity series.
Practice Question 3
Why do ionic compounds conduct electricity in molten state but generally not in solid state?
In molten state, ions are free to move and carry electric charge. In solid state, the ions are held in fixed positions in the lattice.
Practice Question 4
Why are highly reactive metals extracted by electrolysis?
Their compounds are highly stable and cannot generally be reduced by common reducing agents such as carbon. Electrolysis is therefore used to reduce their ions.
Practice Question 5
Why does aluminium resist further corrosion after its surface is exposed to air?
Aluminium develops a thin, adherent protective layer of aluminium oxide on its surface, which prevents further attack of the metal.
Practice Question 6
Differentiate between a mineral and an ore.
A mineral is a naturally occurring substance containing a metal or its compound.

An ore is a mineral from which the metal can be extracted conveniently and economically.
Practice Question 7
An unknown metal displaces iron from iron sulphate solution but does not displace magnesium from magnesium sulphate solution. What can you infer?
The metal is more reactive than iron but less reactive than magnesium. Its position in the reactivity series must therefore lie between magnesium and iron.
Practice Question 8
A solid compound has a high melting point and conducts electricity when dissolved in water. What type of compound is it likely to be?
It is likely to be an ionic compound because its ions can move freely when dissolved in water.

Quick PYQ Preparation

Before solving previous papers, revise these high-priority areas:
  1. Physical properties of metals and non-metals.
  2. Chemical reactions with oxygen, water and acids.
  3. Reactivity series and displacement reactions.
  4. Formation and properties of ionic compounds.
  5. Minerals, ores and extraction of metals.
  6. Corrosion and methods of prevention.
  7. Important alloys and their components.

Official CBSE / NCERT Resources

Use the official resources below for complete examination papers, curriculum information and textbook-based preparation.

CBSE Official Previous Year Question Papers → CBSE Assessment Resources → CBSE Academic Curriculum 2026-27 → NCERT Official Textbooks →