Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · CHEMISTRY · Section
Metals above carbon in the reactivity series
18 practice questions
Practice questions
1–10 of 18
Question 1
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State why magnesium cannot be extracted from its oxide by reduction with carbon.
Question 2
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The extraction of aluminium involves the use of an electrolytic cell.
(a)[1 mark]Name the substance in which aluminium oxide is dissolved for electrolysis.
(b)[2 marks]State the electrode at which aluminium metal is formed and write a half-equation for the reaction occurring there.
Question 3
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A factory uses 18,000 kWh of electricity to extract 1 tonne of aluminium by electrolysis, while producing 1 tonne of iron by reduction with carbon uses 800 kWh. Calculate how many times more electricity is used to produce 1 tonne of aluminium than 1 tonne of iron. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.
Question 4
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Manganese (a metal) can be extracted from its oxide, MnO2, by heating with aluminium powder. Explain why manganese can be extracted this way, and what this shows about its position in the reactivity series.
Question 5
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State why copper, which is above carbon in the reactivity series, cannot be extracted from copper(II) oxide by heating with carbon.
Question 6
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The diagram shows the extraction of aluminium from aluminium oxide.
Electrolysis cell for aluminium extraction Aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite and electrolysed.
(a)[1 mark]State the formula of aluminium oxide.
(b)[1 mark]Give the reason why cryolite is used in this process.
(c)[1 mark]Write the half-equation for the reaction at the cathode.
Question 7
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A company is deciding whether to extract a metal by carbon reduction or electrolysis. It costs £70 to make 1 tonne of metal using carbon reduction and £780 to make 1 tonne of aluminium using electrolysis.
Calculate how much more expensive it is to produce aluminium by electrolysis rather than using carbon reduction.
Question 8
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →State why metals above carbon in the reactivity series cannot be extracted from their oxides by reduction with carbon.
Question 9
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Aluminium is extracted from aluminium oxide using electrolysis.
(a)[1 mark]Name the substance in which aluminium oxide is dissolved for the electrolysis process.
(b)[1 mark]Write the ionic equation for the reaction at the cathode during the electrolysis of aluminium oxide.
(c)[1 mark]Write the ionic equation for the reaction at the anode during this process.
(d)[1 mark]Explain why the extraction of aluminium by electrolysis is much more expensive than extracting iron by reduction with carbon.
Question 10
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Titanium cannot be extracted from its oxide using carbon. It is often extracted by heating titanium oxide with sodium or magnesium.
Explain why this method is expensive and give a reason why this process is used instead of reduction with carbon.