Metals & Non-Metals Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering essential physical and chemical terminology, chemical reactions, extraction concepts, and corrosion prevention methods from Class 10 CBSE Metals & Non-Metals.

Sonorous

The physical property of metals describing their ability to produce a typical ringing sound when struck by an object.

Malleable

The property of a material that allows it to be beaten or hammered into thin sheets without breaking.

Ductile

The physical property of a metal that enables it to be drawn or stretched into thin wires.

Lustrous

The quality of having a shiny surface that reflects light and can be polished.

Allotrope

One of two or more different physical forms in which an element can exist (e.g., diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon).

Aqua Regia

A freshly prepared, highly corrosive and fuming mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid ($HCl$) and concentrated nitric acid ($HNO_3$) in a ratio of $3:1$, capable of dissolving gold and platinum.

Amphoteric Oxide

Metal oxides that display both acidic and basic character, reacting with both acids and bases to produce salt and water (e.g., $Al_2O_3$, $ZnO$).

Alkali

A base that dissolves in water, producing a bitter taste, slippery texture, and turning red litmus paper blue.

Reactivity Series

A list of metals arranged in descending order of their chemical reactivity.

Displacement Reaction

A chemical reaction in which a more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from its solution or compound.

Ionic Compounds

Neutral chemical compounds composed of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction.

Mineral

Naturally occurring elements or inorganic compounds present in the earth's crust.

Ore

A naturally occurring mineral from which a metal can be extracted conveniently and economically.

Gangue

Unwanted earthy impurities, such as sand, soil, and rock fragments, present in mined metal ores.

Roasting

The metallurgical process of converting sulphide ores into metal oxides by heating strongly in the presence of excess air.

Calcination

The metallurgical process of converting carbonate ores into metal oxides by heating strongly in a limited supply of air.

Thermit Reaction

A highly exothermic displacement reaction between a metal oxide (e.g., $Fe_2O_3$) and aluminium, releasing sufficient heat to produce the metal in a molten state.

Electrolytic Reduction

A process that uses electric current to extract highly reactive metals (such as sodium, calcium, or aluminium) from their molten salts.

Electrolytic Refining

A purification technique where an impure metal acts as the anode, a pure metal strip acts as the cathode, and metal ions deposit onto the cathode during electrolysis.

Corrosion

The gradual destruction or surface degradation of metals due to chemical reactions with atmospheric environmental factors such as moisture, oxygen, or carbon dioxide.

Galvanisation

A protective method against corrosion involving the application of a thin coating of zinc over iron or steel articles.

Alloy

A homogeneous mixture of a metal with one or more other metals or non-metals to enhance physical and chemical properties.

Amalgam

An alloy formed by combining mercury ($Hg$) with one or more other metals.

Sacrificial Protection

A corrosion prevention technique in which a more reactive metal (such as magnesium) is attached to iron or steel articles to undergo oxidation preferentially.