Home / iGCSE Chemistry (0620) Core:9.3 Alloys and their properties: Exam Style Questions Paper 1

iGCSE Chemistry (0620) Core:9.3 Alloys and their properties: Exam Style Questions Paper 1

iGCSE Chemistry (0620) Core Paper 1 - All Chapters
Question

What is an alloy?

A) a compound of two metallic elements
B) a compound of metallic and non-metallic elements
C) a mixture of a metal and at least one other element
D) a pure metallic element

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Solution

Ans: C

An alloy is defined as:

– A mixture (not compound) of a metal with one or more other elements
– The other elements can be metals or non-metals
– The components are not chemically bonded but mixed at the atomic level

Option A: Incorrect – alloys are mixtures, not compounds
Option B: Incorrect – describes compounds like metal oxides, not alloys
Option C: Correct – accurate definition of an alloy
Option D: Incorrect – pure metals are not alloys

Examples include brass (copper + zinc) and steel (iron + carbon).

Question

Which statements about the alloy brass are correct?

  1. It is harder than pure copper.
  2. It does not conduct electricity.
  3. It is a mixture of copper and nickel.
  4. It is stronger than pure copper.

A) 1 and 2
B) 1 and 4
C) 2 and 3
D) 3 and 4

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Solution

Ans: B

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc (not nickel, so statement 3 is incorrect).

Statement 1 is correct – alloys are generally harder than their pure metal components because the different sized atoms disrupt the regular structure, making it more difficult for layers to slide over each other.

Statement 2 is incorrect – brass, like most metals and alloys, conducts electricity well.

Statement 4 is correct – alloys are generally stronger than their pure metal components for the same reason they’re harder.

Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 4 (option B).

Question

Pure iron is a soft metal.
When mixed with small amounts of tungsten it produces a hard alloy called tungsten steel.
Which statements are correct?
1 Pure iron is a transition element.
2 The particles in pure iron are arranged in ordered layers.
3 Tungsten steel is a compound.
A 1, 2 and 3       B 1 and 2 only       C 1 only         D 2 and 3 only

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans: B

Pure iron(Fe) is a transition element.

In pure iron, the atomic particles (atoms) are arranged in an ordered structure known as a crystal lattice. This lattice arrangement is responsible for many of the properties of iron and other metals.

Tungsten steel refers to a steel alloy with a significant tungsten content, and it is not a compound in and of itself but a specific type of steel alloy.

Question

 Which diagram shows the structure of an alloy?

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans: D

An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, where at least one of the elements is a metal. Alloys are created by combining different elements to obtain properties that are different from those of their individual components. D has two elements.

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