Name Class : 10-IGCSE Date :

Topic : Metals
1 The first column in the table below lists some general properties of metals.

a. Complete the second and third columns of the table. Write neatly!

General property of metals Correct name for this One use that depends
property on this property
can be drawn into wires
can be bent into shape
reflect light
make a ringing sound when struck
allow electricity to pass through
heavy for their volume
their oxides react with acids
transfer heat well

b i Which property above is a chemical property?

…………………………………..........................................................................

ii Some chemical properties apply only to metals high in the reactivity series.
Give one example:

…………………………………………………………………………………………...

iii When metals react, they form ions with a ……………………………… charge.

2 Going down Group II in the Periodic Table, you will find magnesium, calcium and
strontium, in that order. Look at these observations:

Observation 1: Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water, but more vigorously
with steam.

Observation 2: Calcium reacts briskly with cold water, with a lot of fizzing.

a Those two observations show that reactivity …………………… down Group II.

b i Predict how strontium will react with cold water.

……………………….………………………………………………..

ii Which gas is released, in the reaction of those metals with water?

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c One Group II element reacts with neither water nor steam. Which one?

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d Magnesium reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide (MgO). What forms
when strontium reacts with oxygen? Give its name and formula.

……………………………….............................................................................

e When magnesium oxide is heated with carbon, no reaction occurs. So carbon

is……………………… magnesium in the reactivity series.

3. Which statement is not correct about metal alloys? Tick its box.

A They are attracted to a magnet.

B They are mixtures.

C They conduct electricity.

D They have different properties from pure metals.

4 Which of these will you choose, if you want a strong light metal that resists corrosion?
Tick its box.

A aluminium B lead C iron D. sodium

5 Complete this paragraph about the extraction of iron.

Iron is extracted from an ore called ……………………………., in a ……………………

furnace. The other ……………………… materials are coke and …………………………
Coke is almost pure ………………………. and burns in oxygen to form ………………..
This reacts with more coke to form …………………………., which acts as the
…………………… agent. The two waste gases from the extraction are
………………………… and …………………………………..

6 For many uses, pure metals are turned into alloys.

This diagram shows the structure of an alloy.

a What is an alloy? .........................................................

……………………………………………………………..
 b Give two examples of metal properties that can be improved by making alloys.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

c i There are many different steels. Name the main metal in them:

…………………………………….

ii Other metals are added to this metal, to make the alloy stainless steel. Name
two of them:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

d Brass is an alloy of the metals …………………… and …………………………

Unlike those two metals, it has this new property:

………………………………………………………………………..

7 a Complete these sentences about the extraction of aluminium by electrolysis.

The main ore of aluminium is called ………………………… The compound

obtained from it, for electrolysis, is called ………………………… and its formula is
……………………………………...

b This diagram shows a cross-section of the electrolysis cell used in extracting

aluminium:

c i Label the anode and cathode, on the diagram.

ii What are the electrodes made of?

.......................................................................................................
 d One electrode must be replaced at intervals, because it is destroyed in a chemical
reaction.

i Which electrode is it?

..........................................................................................................................

ii What reaction takes place?

..................................................................................................................

e Why is cryolite needed?

...........................................................................................................................

……………………………………………………………………………...………....

f During the extraction, aluminium ions are reduced. Give the half-equation for this
reaction:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

8 a Aluminium has many uses. Give reasons why it is used:

i to make food containers

…………………………………………………………..………………………

ii in electricity cables

…………………………………………………………………………………..

iii. in aircrafts

……………………………………………………………………………………

b In air, the surface of aluminium is quickly coated with a thin layer of aluminium
oxide. Comment about the effect of this on the apparent reactivity, and uses, of
aluminium.

………………………………………………………………………………………...…………

…………………………………………………………………………………………..………

………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9. The table lists data for three metals with very different reactivities.

Metal Discovery date Extraction method

Gold Thousands of years ago Separate from surrounding rocks

Zinc 1500 Reduce its oxide by heating it with carbon

Sodium 1807 Melt its compounds and use electrolysis to

decompose them

i. . Explain why the extraction technique used for gold is so simple.

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ii. . Zinc is obtained by ‘reducing’ zinc oxide. Explain what this means.

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iii. The equation for the reduction of zinc oxide is: 2ZnO + C → CO2 + 2Zn

Copper (II) oxide can also be reduced by carbon. Write an equation for the reaction.

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iv. Explain why sodium could not be extracted before the 1800s.

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v. When aluminium was first extracted, the reaction used was:

aluminium oxide + sodium → sodium oxide + aluminium

Which substance is reduced during this reaction?

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