Practice questions on oxidation and reduction

Q1.
A student investigated the reactivity of three different metals.

This is the method used.

1.       Place 1 g of metal powder in a test tube.

2.       Add 10 cm3 of metal sulfate.
3.       Wait 1 minute and observe.
4.       Repeat using the other metals and metal sulfates.

The student placed a tick in the table below if there was a reaction and a cross if there
was no reaction.
 
  Zinc Copper Magnesium

Copper sulfate

Magnesium sulfate

Zinc sulfate

(a)     What is the dependent variable in the investigation?

 
Tick one box.  

Time taken
 

Type of metal
 

Volume of metal sulfate

 

Whether there was a reaction or not

 
(1)

(b)     Give one observation the student could make that shows there is a reaction
between zinc and copper sulfate.

If the solution turns colourless.

(1)

(c)     The student used measuring instruments to measure some of the variables.

Draw one line from each variable to the measuring instrument used to measure the
variable.
 
Variable   Measuring

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 instrument

    Balance

   
 
    Measuring cylinder

Mass of metal
   
powder

    Ruler

   
 
    Burette

Volume of metal
   
sulfate

    Thermometer

   
 
    Test tube
(2)

(d)     Use the results shown in table above to place zinc, copper and magnesium in order
of reactivity.

Most reactive         copper

                             zinc

Least reactive        magnesium
(1)

(e)     Suggest one reason why the student should not use sodium in this investigation.

They are too reactive.

(1)

(f)     Which metal is found in the Earth as the metal itself?

 
Tick one box.  

Calcium
 

Gold
 

Lithium
 

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 Potassium
 
(1)

(g)     Iron is found in the Earth as iron oxide (Fe2O3).

Iron oxide is reduced to produce iron.

Balance the equation for the reaction.

2Fe2O3      +     3C      →     4Fe      +      3CO2

(1)

(h)     Name the element used to reduce iron oxide.

Carbon.
(1)

(i)     What is meant by reduction?

 
Tick one box.  

Gain of iron
 

Gain of oxide
 

Loss of iron
 

Loss of oxygen
 
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Q2.
A student investigated simple cells using the apparatus shown in the figure below.

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•        If metal 2 is more reactive than metal 1 then the voltage measured is positive.

•        If metal 1 is more reactive than metal 2 then the voltage measured is negative.

•        The bigger the difference in reactivity of the two metals, the larger the voltage
produced.

The student’s results are shown in the table below.

(a)     The ionic equation for the reaction occuring at the zinc electrode in the simple cell
made using copper and zinc electrodes is:

−
                                         Zn  →  Zn2+  +  2e

Zinc is oxidised in this reaction.

Give a reason why this is oxidation.

It lost electrons.
(1)

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(b)     Look at the table above.

Which one of the metals used was the least reactive?

Give a reason for your answer.

Metal copper

Reason when reacted with zinc it had the most negative reaction.
(2)

(c)     Predict the voltage that would be obtained for a simple cell that has iron as metal 1
and copper as metal 2.

Explain your answer.

-0.7 as 1.2 is the voltage of copper and chromium, 0.5 is the voltage of iron and
chromium, so 0.5 -1.2=-0.7
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.
(a)     Whether there was a reaction or not
1

(b)     brown / orange / dark deposit on zinc

or
blue solution turns colourless / paler
1

(c)               Variable                                   Measuring instrument

more than one line drawn from a variable negates the mark
2

(d)     (Most reactive)        Magnesium

                       Zinc
(Least reactive)       Copper
must all be correct
1

(e)     would not be safe or

too reactive
allow too dangerous
1

(f)     Gold
1

(g)     2Fe2O3   +   3C   →   4Fe   +   3CO2

allow multiples
1

(h)     carbon
1

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 (i)     Loss of oxygen
1
[10]

Q2.
(a)     (zinc has) lost electron(s)
accept loss of electrons
1

(b)     copper is the least reactive

1

because it gave the most negative voltage when it was metal 2

or
it gave the biggest voltage with chromium
or
it gave the most positive voltage when it was metal 1
1

(c)     −0.7 V
1

The voltage with chromium and copper is 1.2

accept use of other cell pairings such as tin with copper and
tin with iron
1

The voltage with chromium and iron is 0.5 and copper is less reactive (than iron)
1
[6]

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