Home / iGCSE Chemistry (0620) Theory (Core):9.3 Alloys and their properties: Exam Style Questions Paper 3

iGCSE Chemistry (0620) Theory (Core):9.3 Alloys and their properties: Exam Style Questions Paper 3

Question

 This question is about copper and copper compounds.
(a) Describe how you could prepare a pure sample of crystals of hydrated copper(II) sulfate using dilute sulfuric acid and an excess of copper(II) oxide.[3]
(b) Anhydrous copper(II) sulfate is used to test for water.

(b) Anhydrous copper(II) sulfate is used to test for water.
$
\begin{aligned}
& \mathrm{CuSO}_4+5 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O} \rightleftharpoons \mathrm{CuSO}_4 \cdot 5 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O} \\
& \text { anhydrous hydrated } \\
& \text { copper(II) sulfate copper(II) sulfate } \\
&
\end{aligned}
$
(i) What is meant by the symbol $\rightleftharpoons$ ?[1]

(ii) How can hydrated copper(II) sulfate be changed into anhydrous copper(II) sulfate?[1]

(c) Complete the table to calculate the relative formula mass of anhydrous copper(II) sulfate, $\mathrm{CuSO}_4$. Use your Periodic Table to help you.

relative formula mass = …………………………. [2]

(d) Complete the table to show the number of electrons, protons and neutrons in the sulfur atom and copper ion shown.

(e) Alloys of copper are used to make coins.
(i) What is meant by the term alloy?[1]
(ii) Suggest why an alloy of copper is used to make coins instead of using pure copper.[1] [Total: 13]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

a) any three from:
• heat copper oxide with sulfuric acid
• filter off (excess) copper oxide
• heat filtrate to point of crystallisation / heat (copper sulfate) solution to point of crystallisation
• dry between filter papers / dry in drying oven

(b)(i) reversible reaction 1
(b)(ii) heat / warm 1
(c) 160 (2 marks)
if 2 marks not scored 1 mark for S = (1 × 32) = 32 OR O (= 4 × 16) = 64

(d) electrons in S = 16 (1)
electrons in Cu 2+ = 27 (1)
neutrons in S = 18 AND neutrons in Cu 2+ = 34 (1)
protons in S = 16 (1)

(e)(i) mixture of metal and other elements 1
(e)(ii) (alloy) more resistant to wear / stronger / harder / more resistant to corrosion ORA for copper

Question

This question is about iron and iron compounds.
(a) Name the main ore of iron.                   [1]

(b) In a blast furnace used for the extraction of iron, carbon reacts with oxygen from the air to form carbon monoxide.
Complete the chemical equation for this reaction.
$$
….. \rm{C}+\ldots \rightarrow2 \mathrm{CO}
$$           [2]

(c) In the hotter parts of the furnace, carbon reacts with the iron(III) oxide present in the iron ore.

$$
3 \mathrm{C}+\mathrm{Fe}_2 \mathrm{O}_3 \rightarrow 3 \mathrm{CO}+2 \mathrm{Fe}
$$
How does this equation show that carbon is oxidised?          [1]

(d) Limestone is added to the blast furnace. The limestone is converted into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide. The reaction is endothermic.

$$
\mathrm{CaCO}_3 \stackrel{\text { heat }}{\longrightarrow} \mathrm{CaO}+\mathrm{CO}_2
$$

(i) What type of chemical reaction is this?         [1]

(ii) What type of oxide is calcium oxide?
Give a reason for your answer.                  [2]

(e) Iron is a metal.

Give three physical properties that are characteristic of metals.
1……………………………………………
2…………………………………………
3 ………………………………………                             [3]

(f) The structure of a compound of iron is shown.


Deduce the molecular formula of this compound to show the number of iron, carbon and oxygen atoms.            [1]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

(a) hematite

(b) 2 (C) (1)

O2 (1)

(c) carbon gains oxygen (from Fe 2O3) / oxygen (from Fe 2O3) combines with carbon

(d)(i) thermal decomposition 1
(d)(ii) basic oxide (1)
calcium is a metal (oxide) (1)

(e) any three from:
• conduct electricity
• conduct heat
• malleable
• ductile
• shiny / lustrous

(f) $Fe_{2}C_{9}O_{9}$

Question

This question is about metals.

    (a) State three general physical properties common to most metals.[3]



    (b) Metals are often used in the form of alloys.

(i) State the meaning of the term alloy.[1]

(ii) Explain in terms of their properties why alloys are used instead of pure metals.[1]

(iii) Stainless steel is an alloy.

Give one use of stainless steel.[1]

    (c) Place these metals in order of their reactivity with oxygen.

copper
magnesium
potassium
zinc

Put the least reactive metal first.[2]

    (d) When 4.8g of magnesium reacts with excess oxygen, 8.0g of magnesium oxide is formed.

Calculate the minimum mass of magnesium needed to produce 24.0g of magnesium oxide.

minimum mass =  g [1] [Total: 9]

Answer/Explanation

Ans:

a) 1 mark each for any three of:

    • conduct electricity / conduct heat
    • malleable
    • ductile
    • shiny / lustrous
    • sonorous / rings when hit

(b)(i) mixture of metal with another element 

(b)(ii) (alloy is) hard(er) / (more) resistant to corrosion / strong(er) 

(b)(iii) cutlery / chemical plant / surgical equipment 

(c) copper , zinc , magnesium , potassium (2)
         if 2 marks not scored: 1 mark for one consecutive pair reversed

(d) 14.4 (g)

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