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Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · CHEMISTRY · Unit

Inorganic Chemistry

869 practice questions

Topics covered

Practice questions

81–90 of 136 · Hard

  1. Question 81

    5 marks · Hard

    A coin is made from an alloy containing copper and nickel.

    (a)

    Define the term 'alloy'.

    [1 mark]
    (b)

    Explain, in terms of atomic structure, why this alloy is harder than either pure copper or pure nickel.

    [3 marks]
    (c)

    Suggest one advantage of using the alloy instead of pure copper for making coins.

    [1 mark]
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  2. Question 82

    2 marks · Hard

    Aluminium is often chosen for the bodies of aircraft. Explain two reasons, based on its physical properties, for this choice.

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  3. Question 83

    2 marks · Hard

    Explain why aluminium does not readily corrode, even though it is a reactive metal.

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  4. Question 84

    5 marks · Hard

    Aluminium has several important uses in everyday life.

    (a)

    State two uses of aluminium and, for each, explain which property of aluminium (or its alloys) makes it suitable for that use.

    [4 marks]
    (b)

    Explain why aluminium is used for overhead power cables, even though it is not as strong as steel.

    [1 mark]
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  5. Question 85

    2 marks · Hard

    Describe two ways aluminium can be made stronger for practical applications.

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  6. Question 86

    2 marks · Hard

    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.

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  7. Question 87

    5 marks · Hard

    Three types of steel are shown below.

    (a)

    Describe the composition and one key property of mild steel.

    [2 marks]
    (b)

    Explain how the composition of high-carbon steel makes it different from mild steel in terms of its properties.

    [2 marks]
    (c)

    Identify the two main elements added to iron to make stainless steel and state why stainless steel does not rust easily.

    [1 mark]
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  8. Question 88

    2 marks · Hard

    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.

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  9. Question 89

    7 marks · Hard

    Iron is an important metal, widely used in construction and engineering. It is extracted from its ore, haematite, in the blast furnace.

    (a)

    State what is meant by an ore.

    [1 mark]
    (b)

    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.

    [2 marks]
    (c)

    Write a balanced chemical equation for the extraction of iron from iron(III) oxide using carbon monoxide as the reducing agent.

    [2 marks]
    (d)

    Describe, in terms of redox, what happens to iron(III) oxide in the blast furnace when it reacts with carbon monoxide.

    [2 marks]
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  10. Question 90

    8 marks · Hard

    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)

    Define the term 'ore' and name a metal often found native (uncombined) in the Earth's crust.

    [2 marks]
    (b)

    Explain why zinc and iron can both be extracted from their oxides by heating with carbon, but aluminium cannot.

    [2 marks]
    (c)

    Write a balanced equation for the reduction of iron(III) oxide using carbon monoxide in the blast furnace.

    [2 marks]
    (d)

    State one economic factor that affects the choice of extraction method for a metal and explain why it is important.

    [2 marks]
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