Using Materials (AQA GCSE Chemistry)

Exam Questions

3 hours24 questions
1a1 mark

This question is about brass.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

What is meant by an alloy? 

1b
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1 mark

Table 1 shows the percentages of zinc and copper in two types of brass. 


Table 1
          
    Copper (%) Zinc (%)
 Yellow brass 65 X
 Red brass 92 8


Calculate value X in the table. 

1c
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2 marks

Calculate the mass of copper in 200 g of red brass. 

1d1 mark

Which is a use of brass?

Circle one answer.

Making jewellery Making ornaments Making cutlery

1e2 marks

Why is the yellow brass harder than red brass?

Use Table 1 to help you.

Tick (✓) two boxes.

 The layers are more distorted  
 It contains more zinc  
 It contains more copper  
 The layers can more easily slide over each other  

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2a1 mark

This question is about poly(ethene).

Name the monomer that poly(ethene) is made from.

2b1 mark

There are two types of poly(ethene): 

  • Low density poly(ethene)
  • High density poly(ethene)

Low density poly(ethene) is used to make bags and bottles and will melt upon heating.

What name is given to this type of polymer?

Circle one answer.

Thermosoftening Thermosetting Thermodynamic

2c2 marks

The type of polymer formed depends on the conditions used during the reaction.

Suggest two conditions that will affect the polymer made. 

2d4 marks

Complete the sentences describing the difference between thermosoftening and thermosetting polymers. 

crosslinks higher metallic bonds energy
force      weak forces electrostatic attraction lower

Thermosoftening polymers consist of tangled polymer chains which have  _____________________________ between them. 

Thermosetting polymers contain strong ___________________  between the chains which need lots of __________________ to break.

This gives them a ______________________ melting point than thermosoftening polymers.

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31 mark

Which property belongs to low carbon steels?

  • Easily shaped

  • Brittle

  • Resistant to corrosion

  • Very hard

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4a2 marks

This question is about ceramics, composites and alloys.

Composites are made of one material embedded in another.

Which of the following materials are not composites?

Tick (✓) two boxes.

 Wood  
 Soda-lime glass  
 Concrete  
 Clay   
 Fibreglass  

4b2 marks

Clay can be used to make ceramic plates.

Use the words in the box to complete the sentences. 

 
cooled  hammered temperatures
moulded heated pressures oxygen levels


Clay is dug up from the ground and __________________ into shape. 

It is then exposed to high ______________________ and hardens to form the plate.

4c3 marks

Steel is a carbon based alloy.

There are different types which have different uses.

Complete the sentences on the uses of different steels. 

Stainless steel is used in cutlery because it

contains carbon.

resists corrosion.

melts at low temperatures.

Low carbon steel is used to make car bodies because it is 

hard.

easily shaped.

corrodes in water.

High carbon steel is used to make bridges because it is  

strong.

brittle.

easily bent.

4d1 mark

Why can aluminium alloys be used in aircraft?

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5a2 marks

This question is about the rusting of iron.

Name the two substances that need to be present for iron to rust.

5b1 mark

During the rusting process, iron(III) oxide is formed.

The iron atom loses electrons to oxygen.

What is the loss of electrons called?

Circle one answer. 

Oxidation Reduction Redox 
5c3 marks

Complete the sentences using the words in the box. 

less                sacrificial protection copper
galvanising zinc   more

To prevent iron from rusting, the iron can be coated with ___________________. 

This is because it is _____________________ reactive  than iron. 

The process of coating the iron in this element is known as ______________________.

5d1 mark

Suggest one other barrier method which will protect iron from rusting.

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61 mark

Brass is an alloy of which metals?

A copper tin
B silver copper
C copper zinc
D iron copper

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    7a3 marks

    This question is about different alloys.

    Alloys are mixture of metals.

    Draw one line from each alloy to the elements it contains.

    alloys-match-up

    7b1 mark

    Suggest one use of bronze.

    7c
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    3 marks

    Alloys of gold are used to make jewellery.

    The bar chart in  Figure 1  shows the proportions of different metals in 9 carat and 18 carat gold. 

    Figure 1
    aqa-gcse-10-3e-tq3c-bar-chart-of-gold-alloys


    Complete the sentences using Figure 1 to help you.

    Some alloys of gold contain gold, copper and 

    lead.

    zinc

    silver.

    The percentage of copper in 9 carat gold is  

    63%.

    37%

    42%.

    The percentage of gold in 12 carat gold is

    20%

    50%.

    80%.



    7d2 marks

    Suggest two reasons why alloys of gold are used as opposed to pure gold to make jewellery.

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    1a1 mark

    Figure 1 shows six test tubes a student set up to investigate the rusting of iron.

    The student followed the method below for each test tube.

    1. Use a balance to determine the mass of the nail.
    2. Leave the nail undisturbed in the test tube for 6 days.
    3. After the 6 days have passed remove the nail and measure its mass.

    Figure 1

    aqa-gcse-10-3m-q1a-iron-nail-experiment

    Give the two conditions needed for iron to rust. 

    1b1 mark

    Table 1 shows the student’s results.

    Table 1

    Test tube Mass of nail in g Mass of nail after 6 days in g
    1 7.45 7.91
    2 7.46 7.46
    3 7.52 7.52
    4 8.67 8.67
    5 8.39 8.51
    6 8.79 8.79


    What is the resolution of the balance the student used? 

    1c4 marks

    The nails in test tubes 1 and 5 have shown an increase in mass.

    Calculate the difference in percentage increase in mass of these nails.

    Give your answer to three significant figures.

    1d6 marks

    Draw conclusions about the factors that affect the rusting of iron using the students' results.

    Include an evaluation of how effective the different coatings are at preventing the rusting of iron.

    1e2 marks

    Hydrated iron(III) oxide is the compound which is called rust.

    Complete the word equation for the reaction.

    __________  +  __________   +   __________   →   hydrated iron(III) oxide

    1f3 marks

    Describe the process of sacrificial protection and explain how it can prevent a piece of iron from rusting.

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    21 mark

    Which of these is not a raw material for making soda-lime glass?

    • Sand

    • Boron trioxide

    • Sodium carbonate

    • Limestone

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    3a6 marks

    This question is about different metals and alloys.

    Compare the structure of an alloy to a pure metal and explain how an alloy’s structure makes them so strong.

    3b2 marks

    Nitinol is an alloy used in dental braces as it can return to its original shape after being deformed.

    Titanium alloys and stainless steel can also be used to make dental braces.

    Suggest two factors that need to be considered when choosing a material.

    3c2 marks

    Suggest two reasons why coins are not made of pure copper.

    3d4 marks

    Name the metals used in the following alloys:

    i)
    Bronze

    [2 marks]

    ii)
    Brass

    [2 marks]

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    4a1 mark

    PEX is a material made from poly(ethene) and is used as an alternative to copper for hot water pipes.

    PEX is made from poly(ethene).

    Suggest a property of PEX that makes it suitable for this use.

    4b3 marks

    Poly(ethene) and PEX are shown in Figure 1.

    Figure 1

    aqa-gcse-10-3m-q4b-polyethene-and-pex

    Poly(ethene) is a thermoplastic that can be softened by heating.

    Suggest and explain how the structure of PEX changes this property.

    4c1 mark

    Banks store coins in low density poly(ethene) bags.

    High density poly(ethene) can be made from the same monomer as the low density polymer.

    Give one change to the same polymerisation reaction that can be used to produce two different products.

    4d2 marks

    Give the names of the components used to make a composite explain why composites have so many different uses.

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    51 mark

    Which substance could the structure shown belong to?

    10-3

    • Graphite

    • A thermosoftening polymer

    • A thermosetting polymer

    • Cellulose

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    61 mark

    Which of these is not a composite material?

    • Fibre glass 

    • Reinforced concrete 

    • Car window glass

    • Clay bricks

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    7a7 marks

    A 9 carat gold ring contains a mixture of metals.

    The table below shows the amounts by mass of different metals in the ring.

    The total mass of the ring is 5.0 g 

    Metal Mass of metal in g
    Gold 1.9
    Copper 0.3
    Silver 2.8

    Plot the data for copper from the table above on the graph in Figure 2.

    Figure 2

    10-3-using-materials-medium-q2a

    7b2 marks

    The gold costs £40 per gram.

    Calculate the cost of the gold used in the 9 carat gold ring using the information given in the table.

    7c2 marks

    Rings can also be made from 22 carat gold.

    The ratio of the mass of gold in 22 carat gold compared to 9 carat gold is 22 : 9

    Calculate how many grams of gold there are in a 22 carat gold ring of mass 5.0 g



    Mass of gold = ______________________ g

    7d2 marks

    Pure gold is 24 carats.

    Suggest two reasons why 9 carat gold is made.

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    1a3 marks

    Some drill heads contain steel. These can be used to drill for crude oil.

    Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. 

    Explain why steel is harder than pure iron.

    1b3 marks

    Diamonds are also used in drills because they are hard.

    Explain why diamond is hard.

    1c4 marks

    Polymers are made from crude oil. 

    Describe the structure and bonding of a thermosetting polymer and explain why thermosetting polymers do not melt when heated.

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    2a3 marks

    This question is about polymers.

    Poly(ethene) is produced from the monomer ethene.

    Draw the repeating unit for poly(ethene).

    2b2 marks

    Ethene is made from cracking.

    Describe how ethene is produced by catalytic cracking.

    2c4 marks

    Low density poly(ethene) is a thermosoftening polymer.

    Thermosetting polymers can be used as saucepan handles.

    Explain why thermosoftening polymers, such as poly(ethene) should not be used as saucepan handles.

    You should refer to the structure and bonding of a thermosoftening polymer in your answer.

    2d1 mark

    Low density poly(ethene) and high density poly(ethene) are made from the same monomer but have different properties 

    Explain why.

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    3a2 marks

    This question is about corrosion and alloys.

    Explain why aluminium bike frames do not corrode. 

    3b5 marks

    A student was investigating the conditions needed for iron to rust.

    They used the following method:

    1. Set up test tubes with the conditions shown in Figure 1
    2. Leave for two weeks
    3. Examine nails for evidence of rust

    The results are shown in Figure 1. 

    Figure 1 

     10-1-using-materials-iron-nails


    Explain the observations the student would make about the nails after two weeks.

    3c2 marks

    Steel balconies are often coated in zinc.

    Explain how this prevents the steel from rusting.

    3d1 mark

    Iron is used to form different types of steels depending on what they are used for.

    Explain how different types of steel are made. 

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    4a2 marks

    This question is about different materials.

    Two types of glass are:

    • soda lime glass
    • borosilicate glass

    Name two materials used to make borosilicate glass. 

    4b3 marks

    Milk bottles can be made from plastic or glass.

    Figure 1 shows the percentage of bottles that were made from glass from 1975 to 2010.


    Figure 1
    aqa-gcse-10-3h-tq4b-milk-bottle-graph

    Using Figure 1, plot the data, including a line of best fit, for the percentage of bottles not made from glass. 

    4c6 marks

    Table 1 gives information about glass and plastic milk bottles. 


    Table 1
     

      Plastic milk bottle Glass milk bottle
     Raw materials Crude oil Limestone, sand, salt
     Bottle material High density poly(ethene) Soda- lime glass
     Bottle size 0.58 dm3, 1.13 dm3, 2.27 dm3 0.5 dm3
     First stage of production Production of naptha fraction Using salt and limestone to produce sodium carbonate
     Number of times bottle can be used 1 25
     Maximum temperature used during   production 840 1700
     Percentage of recycled material   used to make a new bottle  10% 50%

    Evaluate the production and use of plastic bottles and glass bottles. 

    4d1 mark

    Draw the monomer used to make poly(ethene). 

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    5a6 marks

    This question is about different materials.

    Compare the properties and uses of low carbon steel, high carbon steel and stainless steel. 

    5b1 mark

    Why can concrete be described as a composite?

    5c2 marks

    Explain how clay can be used to make a ceramic vase.

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