Chemistry : Metals And Non-Metals

Q 12 / 17

UPSC CSE Prelims 1999

Match List-I (Naturally occurring substances) with List-II (Elements) and select the correct answer using the codes given the lists:

List-I List-II
A Diamond 1. Calcium
B. Marble 2. Silicon
C. Sand 3. Aluminium
D. Ruby 4. Carbon

Codes:
ABCD

EXPLANATION

Correct Option (d):

  • Diamond is an allotrope of carbon, composed entirely of carbon atoms.
  • Marble is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), making calcium its key elemental constituent.
  • Sand predominantly consists of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), with silicon as the main element.
  • Ruby is a variety of corundum, which is aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃), thus containing aluminium as its principal metallic element.

Incorrect Options:

Options (a), (b), and (c) are incorrect as they contain one or more mismatches between the naturally occurring substance and its primary elemental composition, contrary to the established chemical facts.

SOURCENCERT Class 10 Science Chapter 3: Metals and Non-Metals