Topic 9 Practice Paper: Metals — question paper

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Choose one answer for each question. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. 1

   Powders of four metals are added to separate tubes of dilute hydrochloric acid. Which metal gives the most vigorous fizzing?

   1. AIron
   2. BCopper
   3. CMagnesium
   4. DSilver
   ( )
2. 2

   Which metal is found native — uncombined — in the Earth’s crust?

   1. AGold
   2. BSodium
   3. CMagnesium
   4. DZinc
   ( )
3. 3

   In the blast furnace, limestone is added mainly to

   1. Aspeed up the reduction of the iron ore
   2. Bact as the main fuel
   3. Ccool the furnace walls
   4. Dremove the sandy impurity as slag
   ( )
4. 4

   Which metal oxide cannot be reduced by heating with carbon?

   1. AZinc oxide
   2. BMagnesium oxide
   3. CIron(III) oxide
   4. DCopper(II) oxide
   ( )
5. 5

   Brass, used for musical instruments, is a mixture of copper with

   1. Azinc
   2. Bchromium
   3. Ctin
   4. Dnickel
   ( )
6. 6

   Aircraft manufacturers choose aluminium for airframes because aluminium has

   1. Aa high density and high strength
   2. Ba very high melting point
   3. Ca low density and good strength
   4. Da density higher than steel
   ( )
7. 7

   Four iron nails are set up as described. Which nail rusts?

   1. AA nail in a stoppered tube of completely dry air
   2. BA nail covered by boiled water with a layer of oil on top
   3. CA nail in a tube from which all the air has been removed
   4. DA nail standing in open tap water
   ( )
8. 8

   Galvanising an iron bucket means coating it with a thin layer of

   1. Atin
   2. Bzinc
   3. Cchromium
   4. Dgrease
   ( )
9. 9

   During the electrolysis of molten aluminium oxide, aluminium metal appears

   1. Aat the anode, where oxide ions gain electrons
   2. Bat the anode, where aluminium ions lose electrons
   3. Cat the cathode, where aluminium ions gain electrons
   4. Dat the cathode, where oxide ions lose electrons
   ( )
10. 10

    Which statement about copper is correct?

    1. AIt fizzes steadily with cold water
    2. BIt is more reactive than zinc
    3. CIt is extracted by electrolysis of molten copper oxide
    4. DIt is ductile and conducts electricity very well
    ( )

Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

1. 11

   Three unknown metals, P, Q and R, are tested. P fizzes slowly with dilute hydrochloric acid. Q shows no reaction with the acid. R reacts with cold water.

   1. (a)

      Identify which of P, Q and R is the most reactive, and justify your choice.

      [2]
   2. (b)

      Q is one of copper, magnesium and calcium. Identify Q and explain your choice.

      [1]
   3. (c)

      Arrange P, Q and R in order of increasing reactivity.

      [1]
   4. (d)

      Name the gas released when P reacts with the acid and give a chemical test for it.

      [1]
2. 12

   A company is choosing metals for two products: kitchen knives that must keep a sharp edge, and a replacement hip joint that must not corrode in the body.

   1. (a)

      Explain, in terms of structure, why an alloy keeps a sharper edge than the pure metal.

      [2]
   2. (b)

      Name the alloy used for cutlery and list the elements mixed with the iron.

      [2]
   3. (c)

      Suggest why the same alloy suits the hip joint application.

      [1]
3. 13

   A student sets up four tubes, each containing an iron nail. Tube A holds dry air. Tube B holds boiled water with an oil layer on top. Tube C holds tap water open to the air. Tube D holds tap water, and the nail is wrapped in magnesium ribbon.

   1. (a)

      State in which tube or tubes the nail rusts.

      [1]
   2. (b)

      Use tubes A and B to explain what the experiment shows about the conditions for rusting.

      [2]
   3. (c)

      The nail in tube D does not rust. Explain why.

      [2]
4. 14

   Zinc and aluminium are both reactive metals, but they are extracted from their oxides in very different ways.

   1. (a)

      Name the method used to extract zinc from zinc oxide.

      [1]
   2. (b)

      Explain why the same method fails for aluminium oxide.

      [1]
   3. (c)

      Zinc oxide is heated with carbon in a furnace. Give the balanced chemical equation for the reaction that produces zinc.

      [1]
   4. (d)

      Explain why recycling aluminium saves far more energy than recycling iron.

      [2]