GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 1

Some students made a simple cell. Two pieces of metal foil were dipped into a beaker containing salt solution as
shown in the diagram below.
The voltage was measured.
meter

Name the piece of apparatus that was used to measure the voltage.

ctiv

(a)

e.c

salt
solution

om

metal metal
A
B

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
The results are given in the table below:

(b)

ma

METAL A
magnesium
zinc
iron
copper

METAL B
copper
copper
copper
copper

VOLTAGE OBTAINED/volts
1.6
0.6
0.3
0.0

he

EXPERIMENT
1
2
3
4

What is the pattern between the reactivity of the metal and the voltage obtained?

ww
w.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(c)

Predict the voltage obtained if aluminium was used as metal A and copper was used as metal B.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(d)

Predict the voltage obtained if metals A and B were swapped over in experiment 1.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(e)

When silver was used as metal A voltage of 0.05 volts was obtained.
Explain this result.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(f)

Give one disadvantage of making electrical cells using this method.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
TOTAL / 8

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 2

Metal A

Metal C

Metal D

Place the metals on order of reactivity, starting with the most reactive.

e.c

(a)

Metal B

om

Small pieces of four different metals were placed in identical amounts of hydrochloric acid. The results
are shown below.

The four metals used in the experiment were calcium, magnesium, iron and platinum.
Use your knowledge of these four metals to identify the metals A, B, C & D.

[3]

ctiv

(b)

[2]

When magnesium meets with hydrochloric acid, it forms magnesium chloride and hydrogen.
(i)

Balance the following equation

Mg(s) + ___HCl(aq)

he

(c)

ma

Metal A .....................................................................................................................................................
Metal B ......................................................................................................................................................
Metal C ......................................................................................................................................................
Metal D ......................................................................................................................................................

MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

[1]

ww
w.c

(ii) When magnesium reacts with sulphuric acid it forms magnesium sulphate.
If a chloride ion is Cl- and a sulphate ion is SO42-, what is the formula of magnesium sulphate?
Explain your answer.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) What salt is formed when magnesium reacts with nitric acid?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 9

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 3

Below is a section of the reactivity series for metals.

potassium
calcium
magnesium
zinc
lead
copper

increasing reactivity

Predict if there will be a reaction when the following chemicals are added together.
If you predict a react, write a word equation for it.
(i)

zinc and copper sulphate solution

e.c

(a)

om

Use this reactivity series to answer the following questions.

prediction

[2]

ctiv

..............................................................................................................................................................................
equation

ma

..............................................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Calcium and potassium sulphate solution

he

prediction

[1]

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

ww
w.c

equation

..............................................................................................................................................................................
(iii) Magnesium and zinc sulphate solution
prediction

[2]

..............................................................................................................................................................................
equation

..............................................................................................................................................................................
(b)

In a displacement reaction, two metals of different reactivity compete for oxygen.

In such a reaction, oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously.

(i)

What is meant by reduction?

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(Continued...)

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 3 CONTINUED

(ii) Write a word equation for the reaction between magnesium and copper(II) oxide.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) In the equation, circle the reducing agent.

[1]

(iv) The reaction between magnesium and copper(II) oxide needs to be heated. The heat supplies the
activation energy. What is meant by the term activation energy?

om

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
In a series of experiments it was found that carbon would react with zinc oxide, but not with
magnesium oxide.
(i)

e.c

(c)

Write down the name of another metal oxide, which would react with carbon.

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Write the name of another metal oxide, which would not react with carbon.

ww
w.c

he

ma

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

TOTAL / 12

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 4

A student investigated the different reactivities of a set of metals by placing pieces of each metal in metal nitrate
solutions.
The table below shows some of the results.
aluminium

barium
9

lithium
9

8
8

9 = reaction observed

8 = no reaction

Use the results given to put the metals in order of reactivity starting with the most reactive.

e.c

(a)

magnesium
9
8

om

solution
aluminium nitrate
barium nitrate
lithium nitrate
magnesium nitrate

[2]

Use the reactivity series in (a) to complete the table.

[3]

(c)

It is known that aluminium is more reactive than silver.

However, when a piece of aluminium is put in a solution of silver nitrate, no reaction is observed.
Explain this result.

ctiv

(b)

ma

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

ww
w.c

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 8

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 5

Below is a section of the reactivity series of metals.

The non-metal, carbon is also included.

increasing reactivity

om

magnesium
aluminium
carbon
zinc
iron
lead

Both aluminium and iron are found in nature as their oxides.

The methods of extracting the pure metals depend on their reactivity.
Aluminium is extracted by electrolysis from its oxide.
(i)

e.c

(a)

What is the name of an aluminium ore consisting of aluminium oxide?

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) During electrolysis, cryolite is added to molten aluminium oxide.
Explain why.

ma

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

anode

he

(iii) Write balanced ionic equations for the reactions occurring at the electrodes during the electrolysis.

cathode

ww
w.c

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

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b)

Iron is extracted from its oxide by reduction in a blast furnace.

(i)

What is the name of the iron ore consisting of iron(III) oxide?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Explain what is meant by reduction.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(Continued...)

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 5 CONTINUED

(iii) The main reducing agent in the blast furnace is carbon monoxide, which reacts with iron(III)
oxide to produce pure iron.
Balance the equation for this reaction.
___CO + Fe2O3

___CO2 + ___Fe

[2]

om

(iv) A waste product of the blast furnace is called slag.

Give one use for slag.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Explain why aluminium is extracted by electrolysis, rather than in a blast furnace.

e.c

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

he

ma

ctiv

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

ww
w.c

(c)

TOTAL / 12

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 6

A new metal has been discovered.

It has the name mancunium with the symbol M.
Mancunium reacts violently with water to form a colourless gas and an alkaline solution. The alkaline solution
is mancunium hydroxide with formula MOH.
Mancunium also forms a chloride salt with formula MCl.
(a)

Describe a test to show that the solution formed with water was alkaline.

om

TEST
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
RESULT

(b)

e.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Use the information to predict the formula of mancunium oxide.

(c)

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
In which group of the Periodic Table would you place mancunium.

ma

Give a reason for your answer.

GROUP

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

he

REASON

(d)

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Part of the reactivity series for metals is shown below.
CALCIUM
ZINC
IRON
COPPER

Rewrite this reactivity series and include the metal mancunium.

Give a reason for your position.
REACTIVITY SERIES

REASON
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(Continued...)

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 6 CONTINUED

(e)

Mancunium was found to react with copper sulphate solution.

Give the names of the products of the reaction.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(f)

Mancunium hydroxide reacts with sulphuric acid to form a salt and water.
(i)

Complete the word equation by naming the salt formed in this reaction.

Complete the symbol equation for this reaction.

H2SO4

________________________________

e.c

[2]

he

ma

ctiv

______ MOH

[1]

ww
w.c

(ii)

om

mancunium hydroxide + sulphuric acid _____________________ + water

TOTAL / 11

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 7

Reactions that give out a large amount of heat have many uses.
A company has invented 'cook-in-the-can' meals.
A ring is pulled which ignites the chemicals surrounding the can. The chemicals react and produce heat, which
cooks the food in the can.
One of the reactions used is a mixture of aluminium powder and iron(III) oxide.
The aluminium used is finely powdered.
(a)(i)

Complete the word equation below for this reaction:

(ii)

Balance the symbol equation for this reaction.

[1]

[1]

e.c

___ Al + Fe2O3 Al2O3 + ___ Fe

(b)

om

aluminium + iron(III) oxide ______________ + ___________

Use your ideas of the reactivity series of metals to explain why these substances react.

ctiv

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

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c)

Suggest a reason why the aluminium used is powdered.

he

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

(d)(i)

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
John tried out some reactions in the laboratory that may produce heat.
He used a mixture of powdered copper metal and iron(III) oxide.
Give a reason why John was unsuccessful.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii)

John found a copy of the reactivity series in a chemistry textbook.

It is shown below:
magnesium
zinc
iron
silver
gold

Use this information to name another metal that John could use that would react with iron(III) oxide.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
TOTAL / 9

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

High Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 8

Some students were investigating the reaction between zinc metal and copper sulphate solution.
They set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram below.

Thermometer

50 cm3 copper
sulphate
solution

om

5 g zinc
metal

Name a piece of apparatus that could be used to measure out 50 cm3 of copper sulphate solution.

e.c

(a)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Name a piece of apparatus that could be used to measure 5 g of zinc metal.

ctiv

(b)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
The reaction is exothermic. Describe what the students would see.

ma

(c)

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

he

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

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(d)

Complete the equation for the reaction

Zn + CuSO4

(e)

_________ + __________

[1]

Zinc metal was present 'in excess' in this experiment.

Explain what is meant by 'in excess'.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(f)

The students repeated the experiment but added zinc to magnesium sulphate solution.
(i)

What would the students see?

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

(ii) Explain your answer.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 10

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 9

Medium Demand Questions

Reactions were carried out using four different metals - A, B, C and D.

The table below shows the results of reacting these metals with air and then with water.
metal
A
B
C
D
(a)

reaction with air

changes colour on heating
burns in air to form a white solid
no reaction
changes colour when placed in air

reaction with water

no reaction
bubbles of gas on surface
no reaction
fizzes vigorously

From the reactions in the table, give one example of a chemical change.

om

Give a reason for your choice.

[1]

METAL

e.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................
REACTION WITH

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

ctiv

REASON

..............................................................................................................................................................................
Use the information in the table to place the four metals in order of reactivity.

[2]

ma

(b)

Which of the four metals is most likely to be an alkali metal?

Give a reason for your choice.

ww
w.c

(c)

he

MOST REACTIVE ____________________

____________________
____________________
LEAST REACTIVE ____________________

The group I metal is likely to be _____________

REASON

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(d)

Which of the four metals would be found 'native'?

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

(e)

Metal A was found to be copper.

Write a word equation for the reaction of copper in air.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(f)

A student wished to try the reaction between metal D and hydrochloric acid.
Explain why you should not carry out this reaction.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 10

GCSE CHEMISTRY

Medium Demand Questions

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 10

The following questions are all about the reactivity of the metals copper, iron, magnesium and potassium.
Match up each of the metals with its reaction with water. (The first one has been done for you)

reacts with steam

iron

vigorous reaction in cold water

magnesium

no reaction with steam or water

om

copper

e.c

(a)

reacts reversibly with steam

When metals react with water, they form a metal hydroxide or a metal oxide, depending on their
reactivity. From the metals above name a metal which forms:
(i)

a metal hydroxide

ma

(b)

[3]

ctiv

potassium

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

he

(ii) a metal oxide

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
When metals react with water they always release a gas.
(i)

ww
w.c

(c)

Name the gas released when metals react with water.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Describe a test to prove the identity of the gas
Test

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

TOTAL / 8

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 11

Medium Demand Questions

In a series of experiments a small piece of metal was placed in a solution of a metal salt.
Here is a list of reactions which take place.
1
2
3
(a)

aluminium + zinc sulphate solution

iron + lead nitrate solution
zinc + iron(II) sulphate solution

Use the information above to place the metals in order of reactivity, starting with the most reactive.

In another reaction, magnesium was placed in copper(II) sulphate solution.

(i)

Write a balanced equation for the reaction between magnesium and copper(II) sulphate.

e.c

(b)

om

[2]

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

ctiv

(ii) What would you observe in this reaction?

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

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Where in the series you have written would you place copper and magnesium?

he

copper

magnesium

ww
w.c

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

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c)

Use your reactivity series to predict whether there will be a reaction between these metals and solutions.
Write word equations for any reactions you predict.
(i) iron and zinc sulphate

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) aluminium and iron(II) sulphate
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 10

GCSE CHEMISTRY

Medium Demand Questions

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 12

A student placed a small piece of lithium in a trough. Below is a diagram of what the student observed.

lithium

The experiment was repeated with a piece of sodium.

(i)

What other observations would be made?

e.c

(a)

om

trough of water

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

ctiv

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

ma

(ii) Write a balanced symbol equation for the reaction of sodium with water.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

he

(iii) If universal indicator is added to the trough, what colour would it turn?
What pH does this represent?
..............................................................................................................................................................................

(b)

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
The experiment was repeated again, with a small piece of potassium.
What new observations would be made?
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c)

The metals lithium, sodium and potassium are all in Group I of the periodic table.
(i) By what other name is Group I known?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(Continued...)

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 12 CONTINUED

(ii) Why do all metals in Group I react in a similar way?

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Describe and explain how the reactivity of Group I metals changes on descending the group.

om

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

ww
w.c

he

ma

ctiv

e.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]

TOTAL / 13

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 13

Blackpool pier is made from an iron framework.

The iron legs stand in the sea.
Salt in sea water tends to speed up rusting.
The pier is protected from rusting by connecting blocks of scrap zinc metal to the iron legs of the pier.

om

PIER

ctiv

wire

e.c

sea
water

iron leg
of the pier

Name the two substances required for iron to rust.

he

(a)

ma

block of
scrap zinc

(b)

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
How does the zinc prevent the iron from rusting?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c)

Explain why zinc is suitable for this purpose.

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

(d)

Why will the zinc only work when the tide is in and the blocks are covered in sea water?
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(e)

Mark on the diagram the direction in which the electrons flow in the wire.

[1]

(Continued...)

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 13 CONTINUED

(f)

Predict what would happen if the zinc was replaced with copper metal.
Give a reason for your prediction.
PREDICTION
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
REASON

e.c

Salt water appears to make iron rust more quickly than water containing no salt.
Describe how you could carry out an experiment in test tubes with some iron nails to investigate this.
..............................................................................................................................................................................

ctiv

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

ma

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

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

ww
w.c

(g)

om

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

TOTAL / 10

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 14

The table shows the dates of discovery of some metals.

metal
potassium
sodium
magnesium
zinc
copper

What is the pattern between the reactivity of a metal and its date of discovery?

om

(a)

date of discovery
1807
1807
1755
1746
known since ancient times

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

(b)

e.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
A large piece of zinc metal was placed into blue copper sulphate solution.
Describe what you would see in this reaction.

ctiv

(i)

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

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Complete the word equation for this reaction.

zinc + copper sulphate ___________________ + ___________________

he

[1]

The temperature of the copper sulphate solution was recorded before the zinc was added and
then several minutes later. The results were:

ww
w.c

(c)

Temperature at start = 18oC

Temperature after reaction = 31oC
(i)

Calculate the rise in temperature in this reaction.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) What word is used to describe reactions that give out energy?
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Give two ways in which the reaction could be changed to produce a higher temperature rise.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 8

GCSE CHEMISTRY
Medium Demand Questions

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 15

A part of a reactivity series of metals is shown below:

SODIUM
MAGNESIUM
ALUMINIUM
CARBON
ZINC
IRON
HYDROGEN
COPPER

(a)

om

Use this information to explain as fully as you can the following reactions.
A brown solid is formed when a piece of magnesium metal is placed in copper sulphate solution.
..............................................................................................................................................................................

e.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
Nothing happens when a piece of copper metal is placed in zinc sulphate solution.

ctiv

(b)

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

(c)

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
Iron can be extracted from its oxide using carbon. Aluminium cannot be extracted from its oxide using
carbon.

he

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

ww
w.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(d)

Zinc metal reacts with hydrochloric acid to form hydrogen gas.

Copper metal does not react with hydrochloric acid.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

(e)

Zinc carbonate decomposes on heating but sodium carbonate does not.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 12

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Medium Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 16

A group of students were investigating the effects of 'acid rain'.

They decided to look at the effect of acid on metals used as building materials.
Lead and copper are used for roofing and iron and aluminium can be used for window frames.
Their chemistry book listed these metals in order of their reactivity as follows:

om

ALUMINIUM
IRON
LEAD
COPPER
The students tested the metals by adding dilute sulphuric acid to pieces of each of them.
Only the iron seemed to give a reaction.
What would you see when iron reacted with the acid?

e.c

(a)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Explain why the aluminium did not react with the acid, even when the book said it was more reactive.

ctiv

(b)

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

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c)

Suggest why sulphuric acid was used in this test and not any other acid.

he

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

(d)

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
The reaction with acid did not prove that lead was more reactive than copper.
The students had available:
1. small pieces of copper and lead
2. solutions of copper nitrate and lead nitrate.
(i)

From these four substances choose two that the students should mix to show that lead is more reactive
than copper.
1____________________________

[1]

2____________________________

[1]

(ii) What would you see when the substances were mixed?
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(Continued...)

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 16 CONTINUED

(iii) Write a word equation for the reaction.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iv) Explain how this reaction proves that lead is more reactive than copper.

om

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

ww
w.c

he

ma

ctiv

e.c

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

TOTAL / 10

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Low Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 17

The reactivity series shows the relative reactivities of different metals.

Below is a reactivity series for eight metals.
sodium
calcium
magnesium
zinc
iron
lead
copper
mercury
silver

(a)

e.c

Use the series above to answer the following questions.

om

increasing reactivity

Name the metal which is found uncombined in the Earths crust.

(b)

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Which metal is stored under oil?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Which metal is a liquid at room temperature?

ma

(c)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Which metal is shiny when cut, but tarnishes in a few seconds?

he

(d)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Which metal burns with a bright, white flame?

ww
w.c

(e)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(f)

Which metal is extracted from its ore in a blast furnace?

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

(g)

Which metal is used to galvanise iron to prevent rusting?

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

(h)

Which metal reacts vigorously with cold water?

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

(i)

Which metal burns with a brick red flame?

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

TOTAL / 9

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Low Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 18

The 'thermit' reaction is used to weld railway lines together.

The reaction mixture contains aluminium metal and iron oxide.
The substances are mixed in powder form in a clay pot.
The mixture is lit with a magnesium fuse.

om

magnesium
fuse

clay
pot

ctiv

e.c

reaction
mixture

(a)

ma

tap

Complete the word equation for this reaction:

he

aluminium + iron oxide _________________ + _____________________

[2]

The magnesium ribbon burns at 700oC yet the iron will only melt at 1500oC.
Explain why this reaction forms molten iron.

ww
w.c

(b)

railway lines

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c)

Suggest a reason why the aluminium and iron oxide are in powder form.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d)

Suggest why a tap is needed at the bottom of the clay pot.

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

(Continued...)

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 18 CONTINUED

(e)

Suggest a reason for using a clay pot to hold the mixture.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
If copper powder is mixed with iron oxide there is no reaction.
Explain why this reaction works with aluminium metal but not copper metal.

om

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

e.c

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

he

ma

ctiv

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

ww
w.c

(f)

TOTAL / 11

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Low Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 19

In an experiment different metals were heated in a Bunsen burner flame for 30 seconds and then removed.
The observations are given below.

observation
turned black - did not burn
burned with white flame
no obvious change

om

metal
copper
magnesium
silver

(a)

Place the metals in order of reactivity, starting with the most reactive.

When metals burn in air, an oxidation reaction takes place.

e.c

(b)

[1]

(i) What is meant by oxidation?

ctiv

..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Write a word equation for an oxidation reaction which happened in the experiment.

ma

(ii)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
In another experiment, a piece of polished copper was placed in a solution of silver nitrate.
(i)

What was observed?

he

(c)

(ii)

ww
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
Explain your answer.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(d)

In another experiment a piece of polished copper was placed in a solution of magnesium sulphate.
(i)

What was observed?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Explain your answer.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 9

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Low Demand Questions

QUESTIONSHEET 20

Magnesium reacts very slowly with water.

A piece of magnesium is kept under water for a week in the apparatus shown.

magnesium
What gas is collected in the test tube?

ctiv

(a)(i)

e.c

water

om

gas

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
A white solid forms on the surface of the magnesium.
What is this solid?

ma

(ii)

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b)

magnesium will react much faster with steam.

he

magnesium

ww
w.c

steam

gas

heat

(i)

Name the gas collected in the test tube.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Suggest two other metals which will react with steam in the same way as magnesium.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Name a metal that will not react in this way.
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(Continued...)

GCSE CHEMISTRY

METALS & THE REACTIVITY SERIES

QUESTIONSHEET 20 CONTINUED

Explain why many items of jewellery are made from gold or silver and not from iron.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................

he

ma

ctiv

e.c

om

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

ww
w.c

(c)

TOTAL / 9