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Topic 8 - Reactivity Series & Metal Extraction

1. Describe the reaction of metals with water
K
Na
Li
Ca
Mg
Al
C
Zn
Fe
Sn
Pb
H
Cu
Ag
Au
Pt

2. Describe the reaction of metals with acids

K
Na
Li
Ca
Mg
Al
C
Zn
Fe
Sn
Pb
H
Cu
Ag
Au
Pt

3. Describe metal displacement reaction with an example.

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4. Describe the reduction reaction of metal oxides with carbon.

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5. Describe how metals can be extracted from their ores based on the reactivity.

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6. With the help of a series of chemical reactions, explain how iron ore reduces iron in the blast furnace.

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13. With the help of two chemical reaction explain how main impurity in iron ore are removed.
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14. Explain how iron extracted from blast furnace further purified to make steel.
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15. Explain how composition of carbon in steel changes the properties of steel.

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16. State the conditions required for the rusting of iron and steel to form hydrated iron(III) oxide.

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17. State some common barrier methods of rusting prevention.

Painting
Greasing
Coating with plastic

18. Describe the use of zinc in galvanizing.

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19. Explain sacrificial protection in terms of the reactivity series and in terms of electron loss.
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20. With the help of labeled diagram and chemical reactions explain the process of aluminium extraction.

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21. What is the role of molten cryolite in aluminium extraction?

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22. Explain why carbon anode need to be replaced regularly during the process.

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23. State why extraction of aluminium is expensive.

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24. Describe the process of copper purification.

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Past Paper Questions

1. Which statement is correct for all metals?

A conduct electricity when molten B gain electrons when they form ions
C have a low density D have a low melting point

2. Which statement describes metallic bonding?

A The attraction between a lattice of negative ions and delocalised protons.
B The attraction between a lattice of positive ions and delocalised electrons.
C The attraction between delocalised protons and electrons.
D The attraction between oppositely charged ions.

3. Tin is a metal that is less reactive than iron and is extracted from its ore cassiterite, SnO2.
Which statements about tin are correct?
1 Tin can be extracted from cassiterite using carbon.
2 Tin does not conduct electricity.
3 Tin is hard and shiny.
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

4. Some chemical properties of three metals W, X and Y and their oxides are shown.

What is the order of reactivity of these metals, most reactive first?

A W→Y→X B X→Y→W
C Y→W→X D Y→X→W
5. The list shows the order of reactivity of some elements.
K Na Ca Mg Zn Fe (H) Cu
Which statement about the reactivity of these metals is correct?
A Copper reacts with steam to form hydrogen gas.
B Magnesium is more reactive than calcium.
C Potassium reacts with water to form hydrogen gas.
D Sodium oxide is reduced by carbon to sodium.
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6. The reaction below is called the ‘thermite reaction’.

2Al + Fe2O3 → 2Fe + Al 2O3
Which pair of substances reacts in a similar way?
A Fe and MgO B Fe and ZnO
C Mg and CuO D Zn and Al2O3

7. A list of metals is shown.

Aluminium copper iron magnesium silver zinc
Which metal will displace all of the other metals from aqueous solutions of their salts?
A aluminium B iron
C magnesium D zinc

8. The section of the reactivity series shown includes a newly discovered element, symbol X. The only oxide of X has
the formula XO.
Ca Mg Fe X H Cu
Which equation shows a reaction which occurs?
A Cu(s) + X2+(aq) → Cu2+(aq) + X(s) B 2X(s) + Cu2+(aq) → 2X+(aq) + Cu(s)
C X(s) + Fe2O3(s) → 2Fe(s) + 3XO(s) D X(s) + 2HCl (aq) → XCl 2(aq) + H2(g)

9. In a blast furnace, iron(III) oxide is converted to iron and carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide.
Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2
What happens to each of these reactants?
A Both iron(III) oxide and carbon monoxide are oxidised.
B Both iron(III) oxide and carbon monoxide are reduced.
C Iron(III) oxide is oxidised and carbon monoxide is reduced.
D Iron(III) oxide is reduced and carbon monoxide is oxidised.

10. Iron is extracted from its ore in a Blast Furnace. Hematite, coke, limestone and hot air are added to the furnace.
Which explanation is not correct?
A Coke burns and produces a high temperature.
B Hematite is the ore containing the iron as iron oxide.
C Hot air provides the oxygen for the burning.
D Limestone reduces the iron oxide to iron.

11. Why is cryolite used during the extraction of aluminium by electrolysis?

A It is a catalyst for the reaction. B It lowers the melting point of the electrolyte.
C It protects the anodes. D It separates the aluminium from the electrolyte.
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12. Brass is an alloy of two metals.

Which row gives a correct use for the two metals from which brass is made?

13. Which process is used to extract iron from hematite in the blast furnace?
A electrolysis B reduction with carbon monoxide
C reduction with lime D thermal decomposition

14. What is the reducing agent in the large-scale extraction of iron from iron ore?
A air B carbon monoxide C hematite D limestone

15. Aluminium is extracted by the electrolysis of aluminium oxide.

Which statement is not correct?
A Aluminium ions are oxidised at the cathode.
B Carbon dioxide is made at the anode.
C Cryolite is added to lower the melting point of the aluminium oxide.
D The electrodes are made from graphite.

16. Aluminium is extracted from bauxite by electrolysis.

Which row shows the anode material and the anode
reaction?

17. Which object is least likely to contain aluminium?

A a bicycle frame B a hammer C a saucepan D an aeroplane body

18. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and other metals. It is strong and does not rust but it costs much more than
normal steel. What is not made from stainless steel?
A cutlery B pipes in a chemical factory C railway lines D saucepans

19. Aluminium is an important metal with many uses. Some of its properties are listed.
1 It is a good conductor of heat.
2 It is a reactive metal.
3 It has a low density.
4 It has an oxide layer that prevents corrosion.
Which set of properties help to explain the use of aluminium for cooking and storing food?
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1, 2 and 4 C 1, 3 and 4 D 2, 3 and 4
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1. Aluminium and iron are extracted from their ores by different methods. Aluminium is extracted from its purifi ed
oxide ore by electrolysis.

(a) What is the name of the ore of aluminium which consists mainly of aluminium oxide?
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(b) The electrodes are both made of the same substance. Name this substance.
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(c) Aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite before it is electrolysed. Give two reasons why aluminium
oxide dissolved in molten cryolite is electrolysed rather than molten aluminium oxide alone.
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(d) Write the ionic equations for the reactions at the electrodes in this electrolysis.

anode (positive electrode) ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................

cathode (negative electrode) .....................................................................................................................................................................................................

(e) Explain why graphite anodes need to be replaced regularly.

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(f) State two use of aluminium based on its properties

Use 1 ............................................................................................ property ..............................................................................................................................

Use 2 ............................................................................................ property ..............................................................................................................................

2. Iron is extracted from its oxide ore by reduction using carbon in a blast furnace.
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(a) Place the elements aluminium, carbon and iron in order of reactivity with the least reactive element first.
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(a) Use your answer to (e)(i) to explain why iron is extracted by reduction using carbon but aluminium is not.

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(c) What is the name of the ore of iron which consists mainly of iron(III) oxide?

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(d) Write balanced equations for the reactions occurring in the blast furnace which involve

(i) the complete combustion of coke (carbon),

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(ii) the production of carbon monoxide from carbon dioxide,

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(iii) the reduction of iron(III) oxide,

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(iv) the formation of slag.

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