Alloys and their properties: past paper questions

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• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which symbol represents an isotope of the main element present in stainless steel?

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• Question 22Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement describes the alloy brass?

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is an alloy?

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which metallic element is added to iron in the manufacture of stainless steel?

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• Question 29May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statements explain why stainless steel is used to make cutlery?

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  18 carat gold contains 75% gold and 25% copper by mass. Which statements about 18 carat gold are correct?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statements about the alloy brass are correct?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about the uses of metals is correct?

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• Question 25May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row describes the difference in malleability between alloys and pure metals and explains the difference?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 31Structured12 marks

  This question is about metals. Iron is extracted from its ore using carbon (coke) and calcium carbonate in a blast furnace. Give two reasons why carbon is used in a blast furnace.

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• Question 25May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  X is a shiny silver-coloured solid at room temperature and pressure. X is a good conductor of heat and electricity when solid. Which statement about X is correct?

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statements about brass are correct?

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 33Structured8 marks

  Stainless steel is an alloy of iron. Give one reason why alloys are more useful than pure metals.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 63Essay6 marks

  Duralumin is an alloy containing a mixture of the metals aluminium, copper, magnesium and manganese only. Table 4.1 gives some information about the four metals in duralumin. Table 4.1 Plan an investigation to find the percentage by mass of aluminium in a sample of duralumin.

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• Question 26May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which elements can be combined to produce an alloy?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which pair of diagrams represents both a pure metal and an alloy?

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 42Structured13 marks

  Chromium, copper and nickel are transition elements. State two physical properties of transition elements that are different from Group I metals.

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• Question 27May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statements about aluminium are correct?

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• Question 27May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which statements explain why stainless steel is used in cutlery?

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statements about the metal zinc are correct?

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• Question 28May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Steel is a mixture of iron and one or more other elements. The table gives some information about three common types of steel.

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• Question 29May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Cupronickel is used to make coins. The arrangement of atoms in cupronickel is shown. Which kind of substance is cupronickel?

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row compares the strength of alloys with pure metals and explains the difference in strength?

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• Question 29May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Pure metals can be combined to make alloys. Why are the alloys sometimes used rather than the metals they are made from?

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• Question 3May/June 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Substances P and Q both conduct electricity. P is a mixture of two different types of atom. Q is made of only one type of atom.

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about alloys is correct?

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• Question 25May/June 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Brass is an alloy of copper. Which statement about brass or copper is correct?

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• Question 3May/June 2024, paper 32Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 shows the apparatus used to electrolyse molten magnesium chloride. Fig. 3.1 Label the anode in Fig. 3.1.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured13 marksHas a diagram

  This question is about metals and metal compounds. Table 5.1 shows some properties of some Group I metals. Use the information in Table 5.1 to predict: the melting point of rubidium

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• Question 26May/June 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Brass is a mixture of copper and zinc. Which statement describes and explains the relative strength of brass compared to copper?

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