GCSE Combined Science Reactivity & redox questions by topic

Put these metals in order of reactivity: gold, sodium, copper, zinc.

1. (a)Write the order from most to least reactive.[2]
2. (b)State which of these metals is found native in the Earth.[1]
3. (c)State which of these metals reacts fastest with cold water.[1]

Finish each word equation — or state that nothing happens.

1. (a)Magnesium + hydrochloric acid →[2]
2. (b)Copper + hydrochloric acid →[1]
3. (c)Zinc + copper sulfate →[1]

Use the oxygen-transfer definitions to answer this question.

1. (a)Define oxidation.[1]
2. (b)Define reduction.[1]
3. (c)In zinc oxide + carbon → zinc + carbon dioxide, state which substance is reduced.[1]
4. (d)Explain why this reaction is called redox.[1]

Explain how gold’s position in the reactivity series explains where it is found.

1. (a)State gold’s position in the reactivity series.[1]
2. (b)Name the term for how gold occurs in the Earth.[1]
3. (c)Explain why gold needs no chemical extraction.[2]

A student tests four metals with dilute hydrochloric acid.

1. (a)Name the gas produced by metals P, Q and S.[1]
2. (b)Place the four metals in order of reactivity.[2]
3. (c)What can be concluded about metal R’s position in the reactivity series?[1]

Explain why iron nails stored near copper sulfate solution become coated with a brown solid.

1. (a)Name the brown solid and the solution left behind.[2]
2. (b)Write the word equation for the reaction.[1]
3. (c)Explain why the reaction happens.[1]

Explain why the extraction of aluminium costs far more than the extraction of iron.

1. (a)Name the method used to extract iron from its ore.[1]
2. (b)Name the method that must be used for aluminium and explain why.[2]
3. (c)Link one difference between the methods to the cost gap.[1]

Predict and explain whether each pair reacts.

1. (a)Magnesium + zinc sulfate[1]
2. (b)Silver + copper nitrate[1]
3. (c)Zinc + silver nitrate[1]
4. (d)Explain the rule you used throughout.[2]

A copper mine closes leaving huge piles of low-grade ore.

1. (a)Describe how phytomining could recover copper from the piles.[3]
2. (b)Give one advantage and one disadvantage of phytomining compared with conventional mining.[2]
3. (c)Name the process that recovers copper metal from the dissolved ions at the end.[1]

(Higher) Explain, in terms of electrons, why the displacement of copper by iron is a redox reaction.

1. (a)State what happens to each iron atom in the reaction.[2]
2. (b)State what happens to each copper ion.[2]
3. (c)Explain why both processes must happen together.[1]

(Higher) A company must decide between bioleaching and opening a new conventional mine for copper.

1. (a)Describe the bioleaching process.[3]
2. (b)Give two economic or environmental comparisons against a new mine.[2]
3. (c)State the recovery step both options’ copper solutions share.[1]

Design a practical to place three unknown metals (X, Y and Z) in reactivity order using salt solutions.

1. (a)Describe the tests to run.[2]
2. (b)State the observations that would let you order them.[2]