Extraction of metals: past paper questions

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• Question 27May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Process 1: Iron is extracted from hematite in a blast furnace. Process 2: Aluminium is extracted from purified bauxite in an electrolytic cell. Which statements are correct for both processes?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Aluminium is extracted from molten aluminium oxide by electrolysis. Which material is used for the electrodes in the industrial extraction?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The equations for three reactions are given. 1 $2{\text{O}}^{2-}\to {\text{O}}_2+4{\text{e}}^{-}$ 2 $\text{C}+{\text{O}}_2\to {\text{CO}}_2$ 3 $\text{CaO}+{\text{SiO}}_2\to {\text{CaSiO}}_3$ These reactions take place in the extraction of metals.

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Some metals and the compounds in their ores are shown.

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• Question 28May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which substance is used for the electrodes when aluminium is extracted from its ore?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about the extraction of iron from hematite in the blast furnace is correct?

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The oxide of Z is reduced by heating with carbon. What is Z?

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The list shows the position of metal X in the reactivity series of metals.

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• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 21Structured12 marks

  Iron is a transition element. Iron has good electrical conductivity. State two chemical properties that are typical of a transition element.

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• Question 28May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Iron is extracted from its ore hematite in a blast furnace. Which statement about this extraction process is correct?

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A metal ore contains an oxide, MO. Metal M forms coloured compounds. When a piece of iron is placed into a solution containing aqueous ${\text{M}}^{2+}$ ions, M is displaced.

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• Question 29May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Three statements about the extraction of aluminium are shown. 1 The electrolyte is aluminium oxide dissolved in molten cryolite. 2 Carbon is used for both the cathode and the anode.

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• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 22Structured12 marks

  Copper and aluminium are metals. Both metals have good electrical conductivity. Explain why both metals have good electrical conductivity.

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• Question 28May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The iron(III) oxide used in a blast furnace contains the impurity silicon(IV) oxide, ${\text{SiO}}_2$. Which reaction removes the silicon(IV) oxide?

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Iron can be extracted from the ore hematite. What is the maximum mass of iron that is produced from $500\text{ kg}$ of hematite?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured15 marksHas a diagram

  Iron is extracted in a blast furnace by the reduction of iron(III) oxide with carbon monoxide. $${\text{Fe}}_2{\text{O}}_3+3\text{CO}\to 2\text{Fe}+3{\text{CO}}_2$$ This reaction is a redox reaction. State the meaning of the term redox reaction.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured14 marks

  Iron is extracted in the blast furnace by the reduction of iron(III) oxide, ${\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$. This process is made up of three steps. In step 1, carbon burns in air to produce carbon dioxide.

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• Question 31May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which reactions take place during the extraction of aluminium from aluminium oxide using carbon electrodes?

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• Question 29May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which reaction takes place in the blast furnace?

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• Question 1May/June 2024, paper 22Structured5 marks

  Choose from the following substances to answer the questions.

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