Reactivity Series (Cambridge O Level Chemistry)

Exam Questions

2 hours25 questions
11 mark

A student observed the reaction between copper(II) sulfate solution and zinc. 

Which observations are correct for this reaction?

  Observation 1 Observation 2 
A solution colour stays the same pale grey crystals forming 
B solution turns darker blue grey residue on the metal
C solution turns orange/brown  blue crystals form on the metal 
D solution turns paler blue orange / brown residue on the metal 

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    21 mark

    A student was investigating the reactivity of four different metals, W, X, Y and Z, in hydrochloric acid. 

    screenshot-2022-07-19-171435

    Which is the most reactive metal and which is the least reactive metal?

      Most reactive metal Least reactive metal
    A W X
    B X W
    C Y X
    D W Z

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      11 mark

      Compound Y is thermally decomposed with carbon using the apparatus below:

      q1-9-2-medium-cie-igcse-chemistry

      A brown solid is formed in the reaction tube and the limewater turns cloudy.

      What is compound Y?

      • Copper (II) oxide

      • Calcium oxide

      • Magnesium oxide

      • Sodium oxide

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      21 mark

      Calcium, copper, iron and magnesium are metals. They can be placed in order of reactivity.

      Which of the following statements about these metals is correct?

      • Iron reacts with steam but magnesium does not.

      • Copper reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form copper (II) chloride.

      • Magnesium and calcium both react with hot water.

      • Iron (II) oxide cannot be reduced by heating strongly with carbon.

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      31 mark

      Which row in the table below shows how the metal will react?

        metal reacts with dilute acid reacts rapidly with cold water reacts with steam
      A copper ✓ cross times cross times
      B calcium cross times ✓ ✓
      C zinc ✓ cross times cross times
      D magnesium ✓ cross times ✓

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        41 mark

        Q, R and S are metals.

        Metal Reacts with cold water Reacts with steam Reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid
        Q yes yes violently
        R very slowly slowly less strongly
        S no no no

        What are the possible identities of the metals Q, R and S?

          Q R S
        A Potassium Iron Magnesium
        B Sodium Zinc Copper
        C Silver Aluminium Iron
        D Calcium Copper Gold

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          51 mark

          A student was investigating the reactivity of different metals in hydrochloric acid. 

          The diagrams show what happens when each metal was added to dilute hydrochloric acid.

          screenshot-2022-07-19-171435

          What are W, X, Y and Z?

            W X Y Z
          A Calcium Copper Magnesium Zinc
          B Copper Zinc Calcium Magnesium
          C Magnesium Calcium Zinc Copper
          D Zinc Magneisum Copper Calcium

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            11 mark

            Reactions of three metals and their oxides are shown in the table.

            metal reacts with cold water metal oxide reacts with carbon
            P no no
            Q no yes
            R yes no

            What is the order of reactivity of the metals?

              Least reactive → Most reactive
            A P Q R
            B Q P R
            C Q R P
            D R P Q

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              21 mark

              Five different metals P, Q, R, S and T were reacted with dilute hydrochloric acid.

              The volume of hydrogen gas produced after one minute was measured. The results are shown in the bar chart below:

              q2-hard-9-2-cie-igcse-chemistry

              What is the order of reactivity of the metals?

                most reactive → → → least reactive
              A

              P

              Q

              R

              S

              T

              B

              R

              P

              S

              Q

              T

              C

              T

              Q

              S

              P

              R

              D

              T

              S

              R

              Q

              P

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                31 mark

                The following section of the reactivity series shows a newly discovered element, Y. The only oxide of Y has the formula YO.

                Ca

                Mg

                Fe

                Y

                H

                Cu

                Which of the equations shows a reaction which would take place?

                • 2 Y(s) + Cu2+(aq) → 2 Y+(aq) + Cu(s)

                • Y(s) + Fe2O3(s) → 2 Fe(s) + 3 YO(s)

                • Y(s) + 2 HCl (aq) → YCl2(aq) + H2(g)

                • Cu(s) + Y2+(aq) → Cu2+(aq) + Y(s)

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                41 mark

                Four different metals P, Q, R and S were added to different aqueous solutions of their ions.

                The results are shown in the table below.

                Metal P2+ Q2+ R2+ S2+
                P ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓
                Q ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓
                R ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗
                S ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗

                Key: ✗ = no reaction, ✓ = reaction

                What is the order of reactivity of the metals from most reactive to least reactive?

                  most reactive → → least reactive
                A Q P S R
                B Q S P R
                C R P S Q
                D R S P Q

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