Metals

PYQ-Based MCQs (Q1–10)

Which of the following is the lightest metal?
a) Aluminium
b) Sodium
c) Lithium
d) Beryllium
✅ c) Lithium
Explanation: Lithium (Li) is the lightest solid metal.
(BPSC 2020)
Which metal is used for making aircraft bodies?
a) Lead
b) Iron
c) Aluminium
d) Zinc
✅ c) Aluminium
Explanation: Aluminium is lightweight and resistant to corrosion.
(BPSC 63rd Prelims)
Which metal is liquid at room temperature?
a) Sodium
b) Mercury
c) Zinc
d) Lead
✅ b) Mercury
Explanation: Mercury is the only metal in liquid state at room temperature.
(BPSC Teacher 2023)
Which metal is the best conductor of electricity?
a) Aluminium
b) Iron
c) Copper
d) Silver
✅ d) Silver
Explanation: Silver has the highest electrical conductivity among metals.
(BPSC 65th Prelims)
Which of these metals is stored in kerosene?
a) Aluminium
b) Iron
c) Sodium
d) Copper
✅ c) Sodium
Explanation: Sodium is highly reactive and is stored in kerosene to prevent contact with air/moisture.
(BPSC CDPO 2019)
What is the primary metal used in soldering?
a) Lead
b) Zinc
c) Iron
d) Copper
✅ a) Lead
Explanation: Solder is typically made from a lead-tin alloy.
(BPSC Assistant 2018)
Which of the following metals is used in making galvanised iron?
a) Tin
b) Zinc
c) Copper
d) Lead
✅ b) Zinc
Explanation: Zinc is used to coat iron in galvanization to prevent rusting.
(BPSC 2022)
Which of the following is the hardest natural metal?
a) Gold
b) Platinum
c) Iron
d) Chromium
✅ d) Chromium
Explanation: Chromium is the hardest natural metal and highly resistant to corrosion.
(BPSC Teacher 2022)
Bronze is an alloy of:
a) Copper and tin
b) Copper and zinc
c) Iron and zinc
d) Iron and carbon
✅ a) Copper and tin
Explanation: Bronze is made by alloying copper and tin.
(BPSC 2014)
Which of the following metals is used in thermometers?
a) Aluminium
b) Lead
c) Mercury
d) Zinc
✅ c) Mercury
Explanation: Mercury expands uniformly with temperature and is used in thermometers.
(BPSC 64th Prelims)
Which metal is used for making cooking utensils?
a) Lead
b) Copper
c) Iron
d) Both b and c
✅ d) Both b and c
Explanation: Copper and iron are good conductors of heat and commonly used in utensils.
Metals are generally:
a) Malleable and ductile
b) Brittle and dull
c) Poor conductors
d) Soft and non-lustrous
✅ a) Malleable and ductile
Explanation: Malleability and ductility are key physical properties of metals.
Which metal reacts with cold water?
a) Copper
b) Gold
c) Sodium
d) Aluminium
✅ c) Sodium
Explanation: Sodium reacts vigorously even with cold water to release hydrogen gas.
Which metal is used in making electric wires?
a) Lead
b) Zinc
c) Copper
d) Tin
✅ c) Copper
Explanation: Copper is highly ductile and a very good conductor of electricity.
Which metal is the most ductile?
a) Copper
b) Aluminium
c) Platinum
d) Gold
✅ d) Gold
Explanation: Gold can be drawn into very thin wires, making it the most ductile.
Which metal does not react with dilute HCl?
a) Iron
b) Copper
c) Magnesium
d) Zinc
✅ b) Copper
Explanation: Copper is less reactive than hydrogen, so it does not displace it from acid.
Which metal is used in galvanization?
a) Aluminium
b) Zinc
c) Lead
d) Nickel
✅ b) Zinc
Explanation: Galvanization is the process of coating iron with zinc to prevent rusting.
Which is the most abundant metal in Earth's crust?
a) Iron
b) Aluminium
c) Copper
d) Magnesium
✅ b) Aluminium
Explanation: Aluminium constitutes about 8.1% of the Earth's crust by weight.
The metal extracted from bauxite is:
a) Iron
b) Copper
c) Aluminium
d) Zinc
✅ c) Aluminium
Explanation: Bauxite is the primary ore of aluminium.
Which property helps in making metal sheets?
a) Ductility
b) Conductivity
c) Malleability
d) Density
✅ c) Malleability
Explanation: Malleability allows metals to be beaten into thin sheets.
An alloy of copper and zinc is:
a) Bronze
b) Brass
c) Steel
d) Duralumin
✅ b) Brass
Explanation: Brass is used in musical instruments and fittings.
Which metal is stored in kerosene oil due to high reactivity?
a) Calcium
b) Sodium
c) Magnesium
d) Aluminium
✅ b) Sodium
Explanation: Sodium reacts violently with air and water.
Which of the following metals is soft and can be cut with a knife?
a) Iron
b) Copper
c) Sodium
d) Zinc
✅ c) Sodium
Explanation: Sodium is very soft and can be cut with a knife.
What is the oxide of a metal like?
a) Acidic
b) Neutral
c) Basic
d) Amphoteric
✅ c) Basic
Explanation: Metal oxides are usually basic in nature.
The sonorous property of metals means they:
a) Conduct electricity
b) Produce sound
c) Can be magnetized
d) Have high density
✅ b) Produce sound
Explanation: Metals produce a ringing sound when struck.
Which metal is added to iron to make stainless steel?
a) Chromium
b) Zinc
c) Silver
d) Mercury
✅ a) Chromium
Explanation: Chromium makes steel rust-resistant and shiny.
Which metal is found in liquid state at room temperature?
a) Mercury
b) Lead
c) Tin
d) Aluminium
✅ a) Mercury
Explanation: Mercury is the only liquid metal at room temperature.
Which metal is used in making jewellery?
a) Aluminium
b) Copper
c) Gold
d) Iron
✅ c) Gold
Explanation: Gold is lustrous, malleable, and does not corrode.
Which is more reactive: zinc or copper?
a) Zinc
b) Copper
c) Both equal
d) Depends on temperature
✅ a) Zinc
Explanation: Zinc is placed above copper in the reactivity series.
Iron reacts with moist air to form:
a) Rust
b) Tarnish
c) Smoke
d) None
✅ a) Rust
Explanation: Iron forms reddish-brown rust (Fe₂O₃·xH₂O) in moist air.
Which of these metals is the most reactive?
a) Iron
b) Aluminium
c) Potassium
d) Zinc
✅ c) Potassium
Explanation: Potassium is at the top of the reactivity series.
What is the nature of most metal oxides?
a) Acidic
b) Basic
c) Neutral
d) Amphoteric
✅ b) Basic
Explanation: Metal oxides react with acids to form salt and water.
Which metal is used in thermite reaction to extract iron?
a) Zinc
b) Aluminium
c) Copper
d) Lead
✅ b) Aluminium
Explanation: Aluminium is more reactive than iron and displaces it from its oxide.
Which metal does not corrode in air or water?
a) Aluminium
b) Iron
c) Copper
d) Gold
✅ d) Gold
Explanation: Gold is highly non-reactive.
Which of the following metals is magnetic?
a) Aluminium
b) Silver
c) Iron
d) Gold
✅ c) Iron
Explanation: Iron is ferromagnetic.
Which metal is used to make coins?
a) Lead
b) Copper
c) Mercury
d) Sodium
✅ b) Copper
Explanation: Copper and its alloys like bronze and brass are used in coins.
Which metal is commonly used in bridges?
a) Aluminium
b) Iron (steel)
c) Copper
d) Zinc
✅ b) Iron (steel)
Explanation: Steel has high strength and is suitable for large structures.
Which of the following is not a metal?
a) Sodium
b) Aluminium
c) Sulphur
d) Copper
✅ c) Sulphur
Explanation: Sulphur is a non-metal.
Which metal is used for electroplating?
a) Mercury
b) Silver
c) Sodium
d) Lead
✅ b) Silver
Explanation: Silver and chromium are commonly used for electroplating.
The reactivity of metals is determined by:
a) Atomic weight
b) Atomic number
c) Tendency to lose electrons
d) Boiling point
✅ c) Tendency to lose electrons
Explanation: Metals react by losing electrons.
Which metal is used in fireworks for white sparks?
a) Magnesium
b) Copper
c) Iron
d) Lead
✅ a) Magnesium
Explanation: Magnesium burns with a bright white flame.
Which of the following is an amphoteric metal oxide?
a) Na₂O
b) MgO
c) Al₂O₃
d) CaO
✅ c) Al₂O₃
Explanation: Aluminium oxide reacts with both acids and bases.
What happens when a metal reacts with oxygen?
a) Salt is formed
b) Hydrogen is released
c) Metal oxide is formed
d) No reaction
✅ c) Metal oxide is formed
Explanation: Metal + oxygen → metal oxide.
Which metal is used to remove sulfur from molten steel?
a) Copper
b) Manganese
c) Chromium
d) Lead
✅ b) Manganese
Explanation: Manganese helps in de-sulfurizing steel.
Which metal is used in thermometers and barometers?
a) Mercury
b) Lead
c) Zinc
d) Copper
✅ a) Mercury
Explanation: Mercury expands linearly with temperature.
Which of the following reacts violently with water?
a) Copper
b) Aluminium
c) Potassium
d) Zinc
✅ c) Potassium
Explanation: Potassium reacts explosively with water.
Metals are electropositive because:
a) They gain electrons
b) They lose electrons
c) They don’t react
d) They form covalent bonds
✅ b) They lose electrons
Explanation: Metals lose electrons easily and form positive ions.
Which of the following metals is used in car batteries?
a) Aluminium
b) Lead
c) Zinc
d) Magnesium
✅ b) Lead
Explanation: Lead-acid batteries are used in vehicles.
Which metal has the highest melting point?
a) Gold
b) Iron
c) Tungsten
d) Copper
✅ c) Tungsten
Explanation: Tungsten has the highest melting point among all metals (~3422°C).
Which of the following can displace iron from iron sulphate?
a) Copper
b) Zinc
c) Silver
d) Gold
✅ b) Zinc
Explanation: Zinc is more reactive than iron and can displace it from salt solution.