Core Science - C1.4 - Metals and their properties

Question 1

Copper can be extracted from a naturally occurring substance called malachite.
State the name given to naturally occurring substances from which metals are
extracted.
(1)

Answer 1

ore(s)

Question 2

Iron for making steel, copper and aluminium is obtained from substances found in
the Earth’s crust.
The metals are made into many useful things.
When no longer required the metal articles are thrown away as waste or recycled.
Explain why it is important to recycle these metals rather than put them in general
household waste.
(6)

Answer 2

An explanation including some of the following points
• copper used for pipes / wiring / vehicles
• aluminium used for cans / wires / alloys
• steel used for bridges / making stainless steel cutlery etc
• recycled metals can be made into something useful
• saves (finite) resources / stops the metal (ore) running out
• less damage to environment by mining/quarrying
• less waste
• landfill sites will not fill up as quickly
• (some) metals do not corrode /break down
• (so)remain a long time in landfill
• so fewer landfills needed
• less damage to environment from waste
• copper waste toxic
• less expensive than electrolysis

Question 3

The ore is mainly iron oxide, Fe2O3.

Give the name of the element combined with iron in iron oxide.
1

Answer 3

oxygen

Question 4

Iron corrodes when it is left in moist air.
This list shows iron and three other metals in reactivity series order, with the most
reactive metal at the top.
most reactive magnesium
iron
lead
least reactive silver
Explain which metal in the list will corrode faster than iron.
(2)

Answer 4

An explanation linking the following
points
• magnesium (1)
• it is more reactive (than
iron) / it is {higher (than
iron)/highest/first/top} in
the reactivity series (1)

Question 5

Stainless steel is an alloy containing iron and chromium.
State the meaning of the term alloy.
(1)

Answer 5

Any one from
{mixture of / contains / made from
/ formed from / addition of }
AND
{metals / metal and non-metal /
metal and another element / metal
and carbon / iron and another
metal

Question 6

Cutlery is made of stainless steel.
Give a reason why cutlery is not made of pure iron.
(1)

Answer 6

Any one from
iron/ it
• rusts / corrodes
• is soft / is not strong enough
/ is too flexible / is too weak
• {bends/breaks/snaps} easily
• reacts with {air / oxygen /
water / food}

Question 7

Scrap iron can be recycled.
Explain an advantage of recycling scrap iron rather than extracting iron from iron
compounds found in the Earth.
(2)

Answer 7

an explanation linking two of
• conserves reserves (of iron
ore) (1)
• reduces a stated problem
of mining (1) eg reduces
carbon dioxide emissions
(from machinery/trucks)
/specific environmental
problem reduced eg noise
pollution/dust pollution

Question 8

State what is meant by reduced.

1

Answer 8

loss of oxygen / oxygen is

removed

Question 9

Part of the reactivity series is shown.
sodium
aluminium
zinc
iron
copper
Aluminium is found in the ore bauxite.
Aluminium is obtained from bauxite by electrolysis.
Explain why electrolysis has to be used to obtain aluminium from bauxite.
(2)

Answer 9

An explanation linking two of
aluminium is high in
reactivity (1)
aluminium oxide is stable
(1)
(needs) powerful means
(of reduction) / hard to extract
(1)
use electricity (1)
aluminium not reduced by
carbon (1)

Question 10

A large amount of copper in use today has come from recycling copper.
Explain the advantages of recycling metals, such as copper, rather than obtaining
them from their ores.
(2)

Answer 10

An explanation linking two of
conserves
{resources/ores} (1)
reduces waste material
(from extraction) (1)
less damage to landscape /
habitats (1)
reduces landfill (1)
less {copper/metal} goes
to waste (1)

Question 11

Aluminium cannot be extracted from its oxide by heating the oxide with carbon.
Electrolysis must be used.
Explain why electrolysis must be used to extract aluminium from its oxide.
(2)

Answer 11

An explanation linking two of the
following
• (aluminium) more reactive (1)
• forms more stable compounds
(1)
• more difficult {to remove
oxygen /split (compound)} (1)
• electrolysis is more powerful
method of reduction (1)

Question 12

Explain why the aluminium alloy is stronger than pure aluminium.
(2)

Answer 12

An explanation linking the following
points
• (magnesium and aluminium)
{atoms / ions / particles} are
different sizes (1)
• this prevents the layers (of atoms /
ions / particles) sliding over each
other (1)