Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · CHEMISTRY · Chapter
Extraction and Uses of Metals
128 practice questions
Topics covered
- Extracting metals from their ores19 practice questions
- Metals below carbon in the reactivity series19 practice questions
- Metals above carbon in the reactivity series18 practice questions
- Properties and uses of some metals19 practice questions
- Uses of aluminium19 practice questions
- Properties and uses of different kinds of steel20 practice questions
Practice questions
11–20 of 21 · Hard
Question 11
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A coin is made from an alloy containing copper and nickel.
(a)[1 mark]Define the term 'alloy'.
(b)[3 marks]Explain, in terms of atomic structure, why this alloy is harder than either pure copper or pure nickel.
(c)[1 mark]Suggest one advantage of using the alloy instead of pure copper for making coins.
Question 12
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Aluminium is often chosen for the bodies of aircraft. Explain two reasons, based on its physical properties, for this choice.
Question 13
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Explain why aluminium does not readily corrode, even though it is a reactive metal.
Question 14
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Aluminium has several important uses in everyday life.
(a)[4 marks]State two uses of aluminium and, for each, explain which property of aluminium (or its alloys) makes it suitable for that use.
(b)[1 mark]Explain why aluminium is used for overhead power cables, even though it is not as strong as steel.
Question 15
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Describe two ways aluminium can be made stronger for practical applications.
Question 16
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A company is deciding between using high-carbon steel or stainless steel for manufacturing outdoor garden tools. Compare one key advantage and one disadvantage of using stainless steel instead of high-carbon steel for this purpose.
Question 17
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Three types of steel are shown below.
(a)[2 marks]Describe the composition and one key property of mild steel.
(b)[2 marks]Explain how the composition of high-carbon steel makes it different from mild steel in terms of its properties.
(c)[1 mark]Identify the two main elements added to iron to make stainless steel and state why stainless steel does not rust easily.
Question 18
2 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A food processing factory needs to choose a type of steel for making storage tanks that will contain acidic liquids. State which type of steel is most suitable and explain why, giving one property that supports your answer.
Question 19
7 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Iron is an important metal, widely used in construction and engineering. It is extracted from its ore, haematite, in the blast furnace.
(a)[1 mark]State what is meant by an ore.
(b)[2 marks]Explain why iron can be extracted from its oxide by heating with carbon, but aluminium cannot be extracted from its oxide by heating with carbon.
(c)[2 marks]Write a balanced chemical equation for the extraction of iron from iron(III) oxide using carbon monoxide as the reducing agent.
(d)[2 marks]Describe, in terms of redox, what happens to iron(III) oxide in the blast furnace when it reacts with carbon monoxide.
Question 20
8 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Zinc and iron are both important metals found in the Earth's crust, but they are extracted by slightly different methods due to their positions in the reactivity series.
(a)[2 marks]Define the term 'ore' and name a metal often found native (uncombined) in the Earth's crust.
(b)[2 marks]Explain why zinc and iron can both be extracted from their oxides by heating with carbon, but aluminium cannot.
(c)[2 marks]Write a balanced equation for the reduction of iron(III) oxide using carbon monoxide in the blast furnace.
(d)[2 marks]State one economic factor that affects the choice of extraction method for a metal and explain why it is important.