CIE IGCSE Chemistry

Topic Questions

9.1 Properties, Uses & Alloys of Metals

11 mark

Which diagram shows an alloy?

q1-9-2-easy-cie-igcse-chemistry

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21 mark

Copper is sometimes used to make cooking utensils and pans.

Three properties of copper are shown below:

1 Good conductor of electricity.
2 Corrosion resistant.
3 Good conductor of heat.

Which of these properties make it good for making cooking utensils?

  • 1 and 3

  • 1 only

  • 2 and 3

  • 2 only

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31 mark

Most of the elements on the Periodic Table are metals. Metals can be distinguished from non-metals by differences in their physical properties.

Which row correctly describes a metal?

  Malleability Heat & electrical conductivity
A cross times ✓
B ✓ cross times
C ✓ ✓
D cross times cross times

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41 mark

Zinc has many uses in the home. The diagram shows two items that contain zinc.

q4-9-1-easy-cie-igcse-chemistry

In which of these items is zinc used as an alloy?

  bucket door-knocker
A cross times ✓
B ✓ ✓
C cross times cross times
D ✓ cross times

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51 mark

Extended Only

Why are alloys harder than the pure metals from which they are made?

A There are stronger bonds between the atoms
B The atoms are all the same size 
C The layers of atoms are distorted
D The properties of each element have combined

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11 mark

Properties of four elements are shown below.

Which of these elements is a metal?

  electrical conductivity when solid electrical conductivity when liquid melting point ℃
A low low -7
B high low 801
C high high 1535
D low low 3550

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21 mark
Brass is an alloy of two metals

.

Which is the correct statement? 

  • The alloy will completely dissolve in dilute hydrochloric acid.

  • Brass is formed by a chemical reaction between two metals 

  • Brass can be represented by a chemical formula

  • One of the metals in the alloy will dissolve in dilute hydrochloric acid

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31 mark

Element Y is malleable and ductile.

Which correctly describes the properties of element Y?

  Electrical conductivity (solid) Electrical conductivity (molten) Melting Point / oC
1  ✓  2861
2 63
3 801
  • 1 and 2 only

  • 1 and 3 only

  • 2 and 3 only

  • 1, 2 and 3

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41 mark

The three statements below about aluminium are all correct.

1 Aluminium reacts readily to form aluminium oxide
2 Aluminium is extracted from its ore by electrolysis as it cannot be extracted by reduction with carbon
3 Aluminium is used in electrical wiring because of its good electrical conductivity

In which of these statements can 'aluminium' be replaced by 'copper' and still be correct?

  1 2 3
A
B
C
D

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51 mark

Some properties of elements K, LM and N are given.

1 K acts as a catalyst and its oxide reacts with hydrochloric acid
2 L is a dull dark grey solid that conducts electricity and has a melting point of 3600 oC
3 M is easily hammered into shape and has a high density
4 N has a melting point of 113 oC and forms an acidic oxide

Which of the elements are metals?

  • 1 and 3 only

  • 2, 3 and 4

  • 2 and 3 only 

  • 2 and 4 only

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11 mark

A sample of element Y is shiny and can be shaped by hammering.

Which row of the table corresponds to the properties of element Y?

  conducts electricity melts below 25℃
A cross times ✓
B cross times cross times
C ✓ ✓
D ✓ cross times

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21 mark

Some of the properties of four different elements Q, P, R and S are listed below:

1 Q melts at 1410 °C and forms an acidic oxide.
2 P has a high density and is easily drawn into wires.
3 R acts as a catalyst and its oxide reacts with acids
4 S is a red-brown solid used to make alloys.

Which of the elements are metals?

  • 1 and 3 only

  • 2 and 4 only

  • 2, 3 and 4

  • 1,2 and 3

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31 mark

The table shows some properties of four metals

Which of the four metals would be the most suitable for aircraft construction?

  density strength resistance to corrosion
A high low low
B low high high
C high high low
D low low high

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41 mark

Brass is an alloy of two metals.

Which row describes the correct use of the two metals that brass is made from?

  metal 1 metal 2
A galvanising steel making aircraft
B electrical wiring galvanising steel
C making aircraft making cutlery
D making cooking pans electrical wiring

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51 mark

The structure of an alloy is shown below. Alloys are mixtures of metals with other metals or non-metals.

q5-9-1-medium-cie-igcse-chemistry

They are usually much stronger and harder than pure metals. Which statement explains these features?

  • The irregular sizes of the atoms distorts the regular arrangement in the metal structure, meaning more force is required to bend the metal

  • The irregular sizes of the atoms distorts the regular arrangement in the metal structure as the bonding is disrupted when the atoms are added

  • The regular sizes of the atoms distorts the irregular arrangement in the metal structure, meaning more force is required to bend the metal

  • A mixture of metals is tougher than a pure metal because a mixture has more intermolecular forces than a pure metal.

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