Metallic Bonding (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry)

Exam Questions

2 hours15 questions
11 mark

A metallic lattice structure is shown in the diagram.

1-8-q4-edexcel-igcse-chemistry

What are the missing labels, X & Y?

  • X:positively charged metal ions

    Y:negatively charged ions

  • X:positively charged protons

    Y:negatively charged non-metal ions

  • X:positively charged metal ions

    Y:delocalised electrons

  • X:positively charged protons

    Y:negatively charged electrons

Did this page help you?

21 mark

Metals exists in giant metallic structures which have many strong metallic bonds.

Which of these properties of metals can be explained by this feature of their structure?

  • Good conductors of electricity

  • Malleable and ductile

  • High melting point

  • High density

Did this page help you?

3a2 marks

This question is about magnesium.

Magnesium can be shaped easily.  Place ticks in boxes by the two statements which explain why metals can be shaped.

The atoms are all joined by ionic bonds.

 

The atoms can slide over each other.

 

The atoms are small.

 

The atoms are in layers.

 

The atoms are different sizes 

 

3b2 marks

The boxes give two properties of metallic compounds and possible explanations for these properties.

Draw one straight line from each property to the correct explanation.

metallic-bonding-match-up
3c1 mark

What is meant by an alloy?

3d2 marks

Magnesium can be mixed with other elements to form an alloy to make it harder.  The structure of an alloy is shown.

alloy-structure

Complete the sentence to explain why an alloy is harder than a pure metal:

The atoms in an alloy are different ____________________ so the layers are unable to ____________________ over each other when pressure is applied. 

3e1 mark

Why is it incorrect to describe an alloy as a compound?

Did this page help you?

4a2 marks

Welding involves joining two pieces of metal together. 

Copper and iron are two metals that this can occur with. 

Give two properties typical of these metals. 

4b1 mark

Metals have a lattice structure?  What does this lattice consist of?

  • anions and cations

  • anions

  • cations in a sea of delocalised electrons

  • molecules in a sea of electrons

4c1 mark

To join two pieces of metal by welding, they must be melted together. 

State why a high temperature has to be used. 

4d1 mark

An atmosphere of argon is used when the pieces of metal are welded together.  Why is an atmosphere of argon used?

  • to speed up the process of welding

  • to prevent the metal reacting with oxygen 

  • to increase the melting point of the materials

  • to save energy

Did this page help you?

5a
Sme Calculator
1 mark

Aluminium is an element found in Group 3 of the Periodic Table. 

Use your Periodic Table to deduce the number of protons, neutrons and electrons found in an atom of aluminium. 

 

 

protons

neutrons

electrons

A

13

27

13

B

13

27

14

C

27

14

14

D

13

14

13

    5b2 marks

    Give two physical properties of aluminium.

    5c1 mark

    Duralumin is an alloy of aluminium and copper.  What type of substance is an alloy?

    • Atom

    • Element

    • Compound

    • Mixture

    5d
    Sme Calculator
    1 mark

    Aluminium is extracted from bauxite, a mixture containing aluminium oxide. 

    One sample of bauxite contains 17% aluminium.  Calculate the percentage of substances other than aluminium found in bauxite. 

    Did this page help you?

    11 mark

    The table below shows the properties of four substances, W, X, Y and Z.

    Substance

    Melting point

    Boiling point 

    Conducts electricity when

     

    / o C

    / o C

    solid 

    liquid

    W

    3410

    5930

    yes

    yes

    X

    801

    1413

    no

    yes

    Y

    3550

    4830

    no

    no

    Z

    -91

    98

    no

    no

    Use the information in the table to identify the substance that is a metal.

    • Substance W

    • Substance X

    • Substance Y

    • Substance Z

    Did this page help you?

    21 mark

    The diagram shows the arrangement of ions in copper metal.

    1-8-q3-edexcel-igcse-chemistry

    Which statement explains a physical property of copper?

    • Copper can conduct electricity as its ions are able to carry charge around its structure

    • Copper has a high melting point as the metal ions are strongly attracted to each other

    • Copper is malleable as the layers of ions can slide over each other

    • Copper is malleable as the metallic bonds between the layers of ions break easily

    Did this page help you?

    3a4 marks

    Zinc is a typical metal.

    Describe the structure and bonding in zinc.

    3b2 marks

    Explain how zinc is able to conduct electricity.

    3c2 marks

    The surface of some metals, such as iron and copper, corrode when exposed to the air which reduces their electrical conductivity. 

    Suggest why their conductivity is reduced.

    3d2 marks

    Magnesium ribbon is used in many school laboratories for carrying out reactions involving metals and acids. It can be cut and folded easily. 

    Explain why metals can be bent and shaped.

    Did this page help you?

    4a2 marks

    This question is about potassium. 

    Potassium is located in Group 1 of the Periodic Table.

    i) State the electronic configuration for a potassium atom.

    (1)

    ii) State the formula of a potassium ion.

    (1)

    4b3 marks

    One physical property of potassium is that it is soft. 

    i) Give two other physical properties of potassium. 

        (2)

    ii) Give one chemical property of potassium.

    (1)

    4c4 marks

    Potassium can react with chlorine to form potassium chloride. 

    Compare the structure and bonding of potassium with potassium chloride. 

    4d3 marks

    Explain the conditions in which potassium oxide can conduct electricity.

    Did this page help you?

    5a5 marks

    Gallium is a metallic element in Group 3. It has similar properties to aluminium.

    i) Describe the structure and bonding in a metallic element. You should include a labelled diagram in your answer.

    (3)

    ii) Explain why metallic elements such as gallium are good conductors of electricity.

    (2)

    5b
    Sme Calculator
    3 marks

    Gallium exists as two stable isotopes, gallium-69 and gallium-71.

    Complete the following table to show the number of protons, electrons and neutrons in each particle.

    particle

    number of protons

    number of electrons

    number of neutrons

    begin mathsize 16px style Ga presubscript 31 presuperscript 71 end style

     

     

     

    Ga presubscript 31 presuperscript 71 superscript 3 plus end superscript

     

     

     

    begin mathsize 16px style Ga presubscript 31 presuperscript 69 end style

     

     

     

    5c2 marks

    Give the formulae of

    Gallium(III) chloride ......................................

    Gallium(III) sulfate ........................................

    5d2 marks

    Alloys of gallium and other elements are often more useful than the metallic element itself.

    Suggest two reasons why alloys of gallium are more useful than the metallic element.

    Did this page help you?

    11 mark

    Which statement describes metallic bonding?

    • Electrostatic attraction between atoms

    • Electrostatic attraction between positively charged particles and delocalised electrons

    • Electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions

    • Electrostatic attraction between the nuclei of two atoms and a shared pair of electrons

    Did this page help you?

    2a1 mark

    This question is about metals.

    Which statement describes metallic bonding?

    • electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions

    • electrostatic attraction between the nuclei of two atoms and a pair of electrons shared between them

    • electrostatic attraction between positively charged particles and delocalised electrons

    • electrostatic attraction between atoms

    2b2 marks

    Aluminium is malleable and can be easily shaped to make saucepans used for cooking food.

    State two other properties of aluminium that make it suitable for saucepans used for cooking food.

    1.......................................................................

    2.......................................................................

    2c4 marks

    Magnalium is an alloy of aluminium and magnesium.

    2c-q41

    i) State what is meant by the term alloy.

    (1)

    ii) Explain why magnalium is harder than aluminium.

    (3)

    Did this page help you?

    3a5 marks

    Copper is a typical metal. 

    Explain how the particles in copper are held together and why the metal is malleable.

     You may use a diagram in your answer. 

    3b4 marks

    Metals are good conductors of electricity. 

    Electrical conductivity increases across Period 3, from sodium to aluminium.

    Explain why. 

    3c1 mark

    Copper can react with oxygen to form copper (II) oxide. Explain the charge on the oxide ion. 

    3d1 mark

    Write a half equation for the process that copper undergoes when it reacts with oxygen. 

    Did this page help you?

    4a4 marks

    Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium and nickel. 

    Iron is a typical metal. 

    Explain why it has a high melting point.

    4b3 marks

    Explain why stainless steel is harder than the iron it is made from. 

    4c1 mark

    Early hip replacement joints were made from stainless steel.  Apart from being harder, suggest one other property of stainless steel that made them useful as hip replacement joints.

    4d1 mark

    Explain why nickel and chromium are both good thermal conductors. 

    Did this page help you?

    5a2 marks

    Both lithium and lithium chloride contain ions of lithium. However, the structure bonding and properties of these substances are very different.

    State how the ions are held together in solid lithium and in solid lithium chloride.

    5b2 marks

    Table 4.1 below shows the melting and boiling points of lithium and lithium chloride.

    Table 4.1

     

    Melting point (oC)

    Boiling point  (oC)

    Lithium

    180.5

    1342

    Lithium chloride

    605.0

    1382

    Explain what can be deduced from the information in Table 4.1.

    5c5 marks

    Two students, A and B, are comparing the properties of lithium and lithium chloride. Student A states that both lithium and lithium chloride will conduct electricity, but Student B states that only lithium will conduct electricity. 

    State whether Student A, Student B, or neither student is correct. Explain your answer.

    5d3 marks

    Student A and B then went on to discuss the bonding in another substance, CaF2.

    Explain, in terms of electrons, how CaF2 is formed from its atoms.

    Did this page help you?