Properties, Uses & Alloys of Metals (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Chemistry): Exam Questions

3 hours32 questions
11 mark

Which diagram shows an alloy?

q1-9-2-easy-cie-igcse-chemistry

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    21 mark

    Copper is sometimes used to make cooking utensils and pans.

    Three properties of copper are shown below:

    1

    Good conductor of electricity.

    2

    Corrosion resistant.

    3

    Good conductor of heat.

    Which of these properties make it good for making cooking utensils?

    • 1 and 3

    • 1 only

    • 2 and 3

    • 2 only

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    31 mark

    Most of the elements on the Periodic Table are metals. Metals can be distinguished from non-metals by differences in their physical properties.

    Which row correctly describes a metal?

     

    Malleability

    Heat & electrical conductivity

    A

    cross times

    ✓

    B

    ✓

    cross times

    C

    ✓

    ✓

    D

    cross times

    cross times

    • Option A

    • Option B

    • Option C

    • Option D

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    41 mark

    Zinc has many uses in the home. The diagram shows two items that contain zinc.

    q4-9-1-easy-cie-igcse-chemistry

    In which of these items is zinc used as an alloy?

     

    bucket

    door-knocker

    A

    cross times

    ✓

    B

    ✓

    ✓

    C

    cross times

    cross times

    D

    ✓

    cross times

    • Option A

    • Option B

    • Option C

    • Option D

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    51 mark

    Extended Only

    Why are alloys harder than the pure metals from which they are made?

    • There are stronger bonds between the atoms

    • The atoms are all the same size 

    • The layers of atoms are distorted

    • The properties of each element have combined

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    11 mark

    A sample of element Y is shiny and can be shaped by hammering.

    Which row of the table corresponds to the properties of element Y?

     

    conducts electricity

    melts below 25℃

    A

    cross times

    ✓

    B

    cross times

    cross times

    C

    ✓

    ✓

    D

    ✓

    cross times

    • Option A

    • Option B

    • Option C

    • Option D

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    21 mark

    Some of the properties of four different elements Q, P, R and S are listed below:

    1

    Q melts at 1410 °C and forms an acidic oxide.

    2

    P has a high density and is easily drawn into wires.

    3

    R acts as a catalyst and its oxide reacts with acids

    4

    S is a red-brown solid used to make alloys.

    Which of the elements are metals?

    • 1 and 3 only

    • 2 and 4 only

    • 2, 3 and 4

    • 1,2 and 3

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    31 mark

    The table shows some properties of four metals

    Which of the four metals would be the most suitable for aircraft construction?

     

    density

    strength

    resistance to corrosion

    A

    high

    low

    low

    B

    low

    high

    high

    C

    high

    high

    low

    D

    low

    low

    high

    • Option A

    • Option B

    • Option C

    • Option D

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    41 mark

    Brass is an alloy of two metals.

    Which row describes the correct use of the two metals that brass is made from?

     

    metal 1

    metal 2

    A

    galvanising steel

    making aircraft

    B

    electrical wiring

    galvanising steel

    C

    making aircraft

    making cutlery

    D

    making cooking pans

    electrical wiring

    • Option A

    • Option B

    • Option C

    • Option D

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    51 mark

    The structure of an alloy is shown below. Alloys are mixtures of metals with other metals or non-metals.

    q5-9-1-medium-cie-igcse-chemistry

    They are usually much stronger and harder than pure metals. Which statement explains these features?

    • The irregular sizes of the atoms distorts the regular arrangement in the metal structure, meaning more force is required to bend the metal

    • The irregular sizes of the atoms distorts the regular arrangement in the metal structure as the bonding is disrupted when the atoms are added

    • The regular sizes of the atoms distorts the irregular arrangement in the metal structure, meaning more force is required to bend the metal

    • A mixture of metals is tougher than a pure metal because a mixture has more intermolecular forces than a pure metal.

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    11 mark

    Properties of four elements are shown below.

    Which of these elements is a metal?

     

    electrical conductivity when solid

    electrical conductivity when liquid

    melting point ℃

    A

    low

    low

    -7

    B

    high

    low

    801

    C

    high

    high

    1535

    D

    low

    low

    3550

    • Option A

    • Option B

    • Option C

    • Option D

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    21 mark

    Brass is an alloy of two metals

    Which is the correct statement? 

    • The alloy will completely dissolve in dilute hydrochloric acid.

    • Brass is formed by a chemical reaction between two metals 

    • Brass can be represented by a chemical formula

    • One of the metals in the alloy will dissolve in dilute hydrochloric acid

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    31 mark

    Element Y is malleable and ductile.

    Which correctly describes the properties of element Y?

     

    Electrical conductivity (solid)

    Electrical conductivity (molten)

    Melting Point / oC

    1

     ✓

     2861

    2

    63

    3

    801

    • 1 and 2 only

    • 1 and 3 only

    • 2 and 3 only

    • 1, 2 and 3

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    41 mark

    The three statements below about aluminium are all correct.

    1

    Aluminium reacts readily to form aluminium oxide

    2

    Aluminium is extracted from its ore by electrolysis as it cannot be extracted by reduction with carbon

    3

    Aluminium is used in electrical wiring because of its good electrical conductivity

    In which of these statements can 'aluminium' be replaced by 'copper' and still be correct?

     

    1

    2

    3

    A

    B

    C

    D

    • Option A

    • Option B

    • Option C

    • Option D

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    51 mark

    Some properties of elements K, LM and N are given.

    1

    K acts as a catalyst and its oxide reacts with hydrochloric acid

    2

    L is a dull dark grey solid that conducts electricity and has a melting point of 3600 oC

    3

    M is easily hammered into shape and has a high density

    4

    N has a melting point of 113 oC and forms an acidic oxide

    Which of the elements are metals?

    • 1 and 3 only

    • 2, 3 and 4

    • 2 and 3 only 

    • 2 and 4 only

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