Metals: past paper questions

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• Question 7May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Solid element X consists of a lattice of ions surrounded by a 'sea' of delocalised electrons. Which row is correct?

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• Question 24Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement is correct?

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• Question 24May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about aluminium is correct?

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which elements are the major constituents of brass?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Group I elements and transition elements are metals. Student X suggests that the Group I elements are above hydrogen in the reactivity series but that not all transition elements are above hydrogen.

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram represents the structure of an alloy?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagrams show two methods in which metal X is used to prevent the rusting of iron.

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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 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Most metals react with oxygen in the air to form a metal oxide. Which metal forms a metal oxide layer that reduces its apparent reactivity?

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• Question 26May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows how an underwater iron pipe can be protected from rusting. Metal Z can be ......1...... because it is ......2......

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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 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Substance X conducts electricity in the solid state.

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about corrosion of metals is correct?

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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 24Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Solid 1 and solid 2 are both elements. Solid 1 is not malleable. Solid 2 is ductile.

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Aluminium and copper are good conductors of electricity. Why is aluminium used in overhead electrical cables instead of copper?

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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 25May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The properties of four substances are shown. The letters in the table are not the formulae of the substances.

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  When a piece of aluminium is placed in cold, dilute hydrochloric acid, no reaction is observed initially. What is the reason for this?

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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 25Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Aircraft manufacture requires a metal that: 1 has a relatively low density 2 is resistant to corrosion. Which properties apply to aluminium?

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• Question 26May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about metals and alloys 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 26Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram represents an alloy?

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• Question 27May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  When element X is added to aqueous copper(II) sulfate, no effervescence is observed. The blue solution turns colourless. What is element X?

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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 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 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 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured11 marks

  Nickel is a transition element. One of the properties of nickel is that it is a catalyst. State a reaction that uses nickel as a catalyst.

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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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