Non-Metals and Metals Practice Questions
WAEC (West Africa) · WAEC Chemistry · 147 free MCQs with instant results and detailed explanations.
147
Total
47
Easy
74
Medium
26
Hard
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Sample Questions from Non-Metals and Metals
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Q1
Easy
Which of the following non-metals is essential for respiration in living organisms?
A.
Oxygen
B.
Nitrogen
C.
Phosphorus
D.
Sulfur
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Correct Answer: A
Oxygen is essential for respiration as it is used by living organisms to convert glucose into energy.
Q2
Easy
Which of the following metals is most reactive with water?
A.
Sodium
B.
Copper
C.
Gold
D.
Iron
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Correct Answer: A
Sodium is highly reactive with water, producing sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas, while copper, gold, and iron are less reactive.
Q3
Easy
Which of the following elements is a typical property of noble gases?
A.
High reactivity
B.
Inertness
C.
Metallic luster
D.
Forming ionic bonds
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Correct Answer: B
Noble gases are known for their inertness due to having a complete valence shell, making them very unreactive.
Q4
Medium
Which of the following non-metals is essential for the formation of proteins in living organisms?
A.
Carbon
B.
Nitrogen
C.
Oxygen
D.
Phosphorus
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Correct Answer: B
Nitrogen is a key component of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Without nitrogen, proteins cannot be synthesized.
Q5
Medium
What is the primary reason that metals conduct electricity, whereas non-metals generally do not?
A.
Metals have free electrons.
B.
Non-metals are insulators.
C.
Metals have a higher density.
D.
Non-metals have a higher melting point.
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Correct Answer: A
Metals possess free electrons that can move easily throughout the material, allowing them to conduct electricity. Non-metals lack this free electron structure.
Q6
Medium
Which of the following non-metals is used in the process of water purification?
A.
Chlorine
B.
Sulfur
C.
Carbon
D.
Nitrogen
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Correct Answer: A
Chlorine is widely used in water treatment processes to kill bacteria and pathogens, making it essential for safe drinking water.
Q7
Medium
In the reaction of sulfuric acid with zinc, which gas is produced?
A.
Hydrogen
B.
Oxygen
C.
Sulfur Dioxide
D.
Nitrogen Dioxide
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Correct Answer: A
When zinc reacts with sulfuric acid, hydrogen gas is produced along with zinc sulfate. This is a common reaction in chemistry.
Q8
Hard
Which of the following elements is most likely to form an anion when reacting with metals?
A.
Chlorine
B.
Oxygen
C.
Nitrogen
D.
Carbon
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Correct Answer: A
Chlorine is a halogen that readily gains an electron to achieve a stable electronic configuration, thus forming an anion (Cl-) when it reacts with metals. In contrast, oxygen and nitrogen can also form anions, but chlorine is more likely due to its higher electronegativity.
Q9
Hard
Which of the following statements about non-metals is correct?
A.
Non-metals have high melting and boiling points.
B.
Non-metals conduct electricity in solid form.
C.
Non-metals typically form anions in reactions.
D.
Non-metals are generally ductile and malleable.
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Correct Answer: C
Non-metals typically gain electrons to form anions during chemical reactions, which distinguishes them from metals, which tend to lose electrons.
Q10
Hard
Consider a reaction where sulfur reacts with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide. If 2 moles of sulfur react with 3 moles of oxygen, how many moles of sulfur dioxide will be produced?
A.
2 moles
B.
3 moles
C.
4 moles
D.
6 moles
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
The balanced chemical equation shows that 2 moles of sulfur react with 3 moles of oxygen to produce 4 moles of sulfur dioxide, following the stoichiometric ratio.
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Non-Metals and Metals — WAEC (West Africa) WAEC Chemistry Practice Questions Online
This page contains 147 practice MCQs for the chapter Non-Metals and Metals in WAEC (West Africa) WAEC Chemistry. The questions are organized by difficulty — 47 easy, 74 medium, 26 hard — so you can choose the right level for your preparation.
Every question includes a detailed explanation to help you understand the concept, not just memorize answers. Take a timed quiz to simulate exam conditions, or practice at your own pace with no time limit.