IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (Metal & the reactivity series)

B11 Aluminium and iron are both metals.

Iron rusts in the presence of oxygen and water. Rusting involves a series of reactions. Initially

iron atoms lose electrons to form iron(II) ions.

Fe(s) Fe2+(aq) + 2e
At the same time oxygen, O2, and water molecules react to form hydroxide ions.

O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e 4OH(aq)

..........
Aqueous iron(II) ions then react with aqueous hydroxide ions to form solid iron(II) ..........
hydroxide. ..........
..........
Finally the iron(II) hydroxide is oxidised to give hydrated iron(III) oxide (rust). ..........
..........
(a) (i) Explain why the formation of iron(II) ions from iron atoms is an example of ..........
oxidation. ..........
..........
.................................................................................................................................. .........
[2]
.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) Write the ionic equation, including state symbols, for the reaction between iron(II)
ions and hydroxide ions.
(b) The table shows part of the reactivity series of metals.
metal relative reactivity

zinc most reactive

iron

tin least reactive

An iron object plated with either zinc or tin will not rust.

(i) Suggest how tin stops iron from rusting.

[1]

(ii) An iron object plated with tin will start to rust if the layer of tin is scratched.
An iron object plated with zinc will not rust if the layer of zinc is scratched.
Use the information in the table to explain these two observations.

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

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

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

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

.............................................................................................................................. [3]
(c) Explain why aluminium will not corrode in the presence of oxygen and water.

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

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(d) State a use of aluminium and explain why this metal is particularly suited for the stated
use.

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

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

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 10]

IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (The Reactivity Series)

B10 (a) You are provided with the following substances.

magnesium
metal copper
metal aqueous
chlorine
aqueous iodine
aqueous copper(II) sulphate
aqueous magnesium
nitrate aqueous potassium
chloride aqueous
potassium iodide.

Use substances from the list to show that,

(i) iodine is less reactive than chlorine,

(ii) copper is less reactive than magnesium.

Your answer should include details of your observations and the equations for the
reactions which occur.

[7]

(b) The table shows information about three metals, X, Y and Z.

metal method of extraction of metal

X found uncombined

Y electrolysis of molten oxide

Z heating oxide with carbon

(i) Place the three metals in order of increasing reactivity.

(ii) Suggest the identity of the three metals X, Y and Z. [3] [10

marks]
IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (The reactivity series, metal, atomic structure, manufacturing
chemicals)

6 This question is about different metals.

The list below shows part of the metal reactivity series .

potassium more
reactive magnesium
alumi
nium
zinc
iron
copper less reactive

(a) From this list, choose a metal which is extracted using electrolysis.

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) Two thousand years ago, people were able to extract iron and copper from their ores.
They were not able to extract aluminium.

Suggest why they were not able to extract aluminium from its ore.

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

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) Uranium is between magnesium and zinc in the reactivity series.

Equal sized strips of magnesium, uranium and zinc were placed in hydrochloric
acid. The hydrochloric acid was the same concentration.
The results are shown in the table.

(i) Complete the result for uranium and hydrochloric acid.

metal observations on adding to hydrochloric acid

magnesium many bubbles of gas produced very rapidly and

magnesium dissolves quickly

uranium

zinc a few bubbles produced at a steady rate and zinc

dissolves slowly

(ii) Uranium has several isotopes which are radioactive.

One of these isotopes is uranium 235 (235U).

What do you understand by the term isotopes?

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

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

(iii) State one use of uranium 235.

...............................................................................................................................[3]
 (d) Metals high in the reactivity series react readily with oxygen.
Name the compound formed when magnesium reacts with oxygen.

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(e) Copper is alloyed with tin to make bronze.

(i) State what is meant by the term alloy.

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

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

(ii) Suggest why metals are often used in the form of alloys.

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

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

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(f) Zinc can be extracted by heating zinc oxide with carbon.

ZnO + C Zn + CO

Explain why carbon is a reducing agent (reductant) in this reaction.

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

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

......................................................................................................................................[1]
(g) Iron is used as a catalyst in the Haber Process for making ammonia.

3H2 + N2 2NH3

(i) What does the sign mean?

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

(ii) What is the approximate percentage of nitrogen in the air?

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(h) Magnesium is in group II of the Periodic Table.

(i) Draw a diagram to show the electronic structure of magnesium.

(ii) Explain what happens to the magnesium atom when it reacts and forms a magnesium ion.

...............................................................................................................................[3]
Total / 14
IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (The reactivity series and miscellaneous)

2 The table shows some observations about the reactivity of various metals with dilute hydrochloric
acid.

metal observations

calcium many bubbles produced rapidly with much spitting

copper no bubbles formed

iron a few bubbles produced very slowly

magnesium many bubbles produced rapidly with no spitting

(a) Put these metals in order of their reactivity.

most reactive least reactive

[1]

(b) Zinc is between iron and magnesium in its reactivity.

Suggest what observations are made about how fast the bubbles are produced when
zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid.

[1]

(c) Magnesium is extracted by the electrolysis of molten magnesium chloride.

anode (+)

inert gas

molten magnesium

iron cathode () molten magnesium chloride

 (i) What information in the diagram suggests that magnesium is less dense than
molten magnesium chloride?

[1]

(ii) Suggest why magnesium has to be extracted by electrolysis rather than by heating its oxide
with carbon.
t
[1] h
e

(iii) Suggest why a stream of inert gas is blown over the surface of the molten l
magnesium. i
s
[1] t
.

(iv) State the name of a gaseous element which is inert. sub

[1] anc

haz
(d) In some old magnesium manufacturing plants, coal gas is blown over the surface of the
rd
magnesium.
The list shows the main substances in coal gas.
sub

carbon monoxide ethene hydrogen anc

hydrogen sulfide methane

(i) Draw the structure of ethene showing all atoms and bonds.

[1]

(ii) Suggest two hazards of using coal gas by referring to two specific substances in

hazard

substance

hazard [2]
 (e) Carbon monoxide can be removed from coal gas by mixing it with steam and passing the mixture
over a catalyst of iron(III) oxide at 400 C.

CO + H2O CO2 + H2

(i) Write a word equation for this reaction.

[1]


(ii) What does the symbol mean?

[1]


(iii) Iron(III) oxide reacts with acids to form a solution containing iron(III) ions.
Describe a test for aqueous iron(III) ions.

test

Result .

[Total: 13]
IGCSE QUESTIONS SET X (The reactivity and miscellaneous)

5 The list shows part of the reactivity series.

strontium
calcium
magnesium
iron more reactive
copper

less reactive

(a) Calcium is manufactured by the electrolysis of molten calcium chloride.

Suggest why calcium is extracted by electrolysis.

[1]

(b) Equal sized pieces of magnesium, strontium and calcium are placed in water. Some
observations about these reactions are shown in the table.
Complete the box for strontium.

metal observations

Gives off a few bubbles of gas with hot water.

magnesium
Dissolves very slowly.

Gives off bubbles steadily with cold water.

calcium
Dissolves slowly.

strontium

[2]
 (c) When water is added to calcium carbide, acetylene and calcium hydroxide are formed.
State a use for acetylene.

[1]

(d) A solution of calcium hydroxide is alkaline.

(i) Complete and balance the equation for the reaction of calcium hydroxide with
hydrochloric acid.

Ca(OH)2 + 2HCl CaCl2 + ............ [1]

(ii) What type of chemical reaction is this?

[1]

(e) A student used the apparatus shown below to calculate the concentration of a solution of calcium
hydroxide.

hydrochloric acid

calcium hydroxide solution

(i) State the name of the piece of apparatus labelled A.

[1]

(ii) Describe how the pH of the solution in the flask changes as the hydrochloric acid is
added.

[2]
Total / 9

4 The reactivity series of metals given below contains both familiar and unfamiliar elements.
For most of the unfamiliar elements, which are marked *, their common oxidation states are given.

* barium Ba
* lanthanum La (+3)
 magnesium
zinc
* chromium Cr (+2), (+3), (+6)
iron
copper
* palladium (+2)

Choose metal(s) from the above list to answer the following questions.

(i) Which two metals would not react with dilute hydrochloric acid?

[2]

(ii) Which two unfamiliar metals (*) would react with cold water?

[2]

(iii) What is the oxidation state of barium?

[1]

(iv) Name an unfamiliar metal (*) whose oxide cannot be reduced by carbon.

[1]

(v) Why should you be able to predict that metals such as iron and chromium have
more than one oxidation state?

[1]

[Total: 7]
 4 In the following list of ionic equations, the metals are in order of reactivity.

+
2+
Zn Zn + 2e
2+
Sn Sn + 2e reactivity of metals increases
2+
Hg Hg + 2e
+
Ag Ag + e

(a) (i) In the space at the top of the series, write an ionic equation that includes a more
reactive metal. [1]

(ii) Define oxidation in terms of electron transfer. [1]

[1]

(iii) Explain why the positive ions are likely to be oxidising agents.

[1]

(iv) Which positive ion(s) can oxidise mercury metal (Hg)?

[1]

(b) The following diagram shows a simple cell.

V voltmeter

tin electrode zinc electrode

electrolyte
dilute sulphuric acid

(i) Predict how the voltage of the cell would change if the tin electrode was replaced
with a silver one.

[1]
(ii) Which electrode would go into the solution as positive ions? Give a reason for your
choice.

[1]

(iii) State how you can predict the direction of the electron flow in cells of this type.

[1]
[1]

[1]

[1]
..............................................................................................................................

Questions:

(1)
a) List the following metals in order of decreasing reactivity:
Aluminium, copper, iron, sodium.

..

b) Some magnesium powder was mixed with some copper (II) oxide and heated strongly.
There was a vigorous copper (II) oxide and heated strongly. There was a vigorous
reaction, producing a lot of sparks and a bright flash of lith.
i. Name the products of the reaction

..

ii. Write a balanced symbol equation for the reaction.

..

iii. Which substance in the reaction has been reduced?

..

iv. Which substance is the oxidizing agent?

..

c) If a mixture of zinc powder and cobalt (II) oxide is heated, the following reactions
occurs:
Zn + CaO ZnO + CO
i. Which metal is higher in the reactivity series?

..

ii. The zinc can be described as a reducing agent. Using this example, explain what is
meant by the term reducing agent.

..

iii. Which substance in this reaction has been oxidized?

..

d) Aluminium, chromium and manganese are ll moderately reactive metals. Use the
following information to arrange them in the correct reactivity series order, starting
with the most reactive one.

Chromium is manufactured by heating chromium (II) oxide with aluminium.

If manganese is heated with aluminium oxide, there is no reaction.

 If manganese is heated chromium (III) oxide, chromium is produced.

..

(2) Study the following equations and, in each case, decide where the substance in bold type
has been oxidized or reduced. Explain your choice in terms of either oxygen transfer or
electron transfer as appropriate.
a) Zn + CuO ZnO + Cu
b) Fe2O3 + 3C 2Fe + 3CO
c) Mg + Zn2+ Mg2+ + Zn
d) Zn + Cu2+ Zn2+ + Cu
a)

..

b)

..

c)

..

d)

..

(3) The equation for the reaction when solid magnesium and solid lead (II) oxide are heated
together is:

Mg + PbO MgO + Pb

a) What does this tell you about the position of lead in the reactivity series? Explain your
answer.

..

..

..

..

b) Rewrite the equation as an ionic equation.

..

(4) Some iron fillings were shaken with some copper(II) sulfate solution. The ionic equation for
the reaction is :

Fe + Cu2+ Fe2+ + Cu

a) Write down any one change that you would observe during this reaction.

..

b) Which substance has been oxidized in this reaction?

..

c) Write down the full (ionic) equation for this reaction.

..

(5) Some experiments were carried out to place the metals copper, nickel and silver in
reactivity series order.
Experiment 1: a piece of copper was placed in some green nickel(II) sulfate solution. There
was no change to either the copper or the solution.

Experiment 2: a coil of copper wire was suspended in some silver nitrate solution. A furry
grey growth appeared on the copper wire, out of which grew spiky silvery crystals. The
solution gradually turned from colorless to blue.

a) Use this information to place copper, nickel and silver in reactivity series order, starting
with the most reactive one.

..

b) In another experiment, a piece of nickel was placed in some copper(II) sulfate solution.
i. Write down any one change that you would observe during this reaction.

..

ii. Write the full balanced equation for this reaction. (Assume that nickel (II) sulfate
solution formed).

..

iii. Write the ionic equation for this reaction, and use it to explain which substance has
been oxidized during the reaction.

..

(6)

a) Look carefully at the following equations and then decide what you can say about the
position of the metal X in the reactivity series. Explain your reasoning.

X + 2HCl XCl2 + H2

X + CuSO4 XSO4 + Cu

X + FeSO4 no reaction

..

..

..

..

..

b) Decide whether X will react with the following substances. If it will react, write down the
names of the products.
i. Silvery nitrate solution
.

..

ii. Zinc oxide

..

iii. Cold water

..

iv. Copper(II) chloride solution

..

v. Dilute sulfuric acid

..

(7) If you add some powdered aluminum to a small amount of cold dilute hydrochloric acid in
a boiling tube, very little happens. If you warm this gently, it stars to fizz very rapidly.
a) Name the gas given off to a produce the fizzing.

..

b) If you used an excess of hydrochloric acid, you would end up with a colorless solution.
Name the solution.

..

c) Write the full balanced equation for the reaction.

..

d) Explain why the aluminium hardly reacts at all with the dilute acid in the cold, but
reacts vigorously after even gentle heating.

..

..

..

(8) Given some small bits of the metal titanium, and any simple apparatus that you might
need, describe how you would find out the approximate position of titanium in the
reactivity out the approximate position of titanium in the reactivity series using only water
and dilute hydrochloric acid you need only find out that the reactivity is similar to
magnesium or whatever. Your experiments should be done in an order that guarantees
maximum safety. For example, if its reactivity turned out to be similar to potassium,
dropping it into dilute hydrochloric acid wouldnt be a good idea.

Structured Questions

13.Answer the following questions, on the extraction of iron in a blast furnace.

a) What is the main ore of iron called?

b) What is the purpose of the limestone?

c) What is the main impurity in the iron ore?

d) Write an equation to show the reduction of the ore.

e) What floats on top of the molten iron?

f) In the middle of the furnace, what is the main reducing gas?

g) Name two other elements usually present in pig rion.

h) List four alloys of iron and a use of each.

Name:

Uses:

.

14.The seventh most abundant element on the earth is titanium. It is extracted from its ore,
rutile, TiO2. This is first converted into titanium chloride, TiCl 4, with concentrated
hydrochloric acid. It is then reduced by heating with sodium metal in an inert atmosphere
of argon.
a) What is the chemical name for TiO2?

b) Complete these equations:

TiO2 + 4HCl .+

TiCl4 + 4Na +

c) Why is it necessary to have an inert atmosphere of argon, during the extraction using
sodium?

d) TiCl4 is a liquid chloride. Do you think it is ionic or covalent?

e) Titanium is used in spaceship construction. What property makes it suitable for such a
use?

15.
a) Explain the observations summarized below:
 b) There is an iron column in Delhi that was built in approximately 200A.D. However,
nearly two thousand years later, it still has no rust on it. Can you explain why?

c) Why does an iron pipe buried deep in clay rust more quickly than one buried in a
shallow trench of sand?

d) Why does a tin can when scratched rust much quicker than an iron can coat with zinc
(galvanized), when it becomes scratched?

.
16.
a) The 20-cent of a Singapore coin has a mass of 4.5 g. It is a cupronickel alloy (75% Cu,
25% Ni). How much copper would be needed to produce 1000 000 of these coins?

b) If copper is extracted from the ore cuprite, Cu 2O, then how much of this ore is needed
to produce 1000 000 coins?[Ar(Cu) = 64, Ar(O) = 16]

17.Answer the questions below on the extraction of aluminium by the electrolysis of bauxite.
a) Why is cryolite added to the bauxite?

b) What materials are the electrodes of the cell made of?

c) Write the equation for the reaction at the cathode.

d) What is the main product at the anode?


.

e) Write an equation for the reaction at the anode.

f) Why do the anodes have to be replaced?

g) Why is aluminium parts often built in mountainous areas?

h) List four uses of aluminium.