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CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science C8.4 Transition elements Exam Style Questions Paper 2

CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science Paper 2 - All Chapters

Question

The properties of some substances are listed.

  1. form acidic oxides
  2. have high melting points
  3. act as catalysts
  4. form coloured compounds

What are the properties of transition metals?

A. \(1, 2\) and \(3\)  
B. \(1, 2\) and \(4\)  
C. \(1, 3\) and \(4\)  
D. \(2, 3\) and \(4\)

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Transition metals are dense with high melting points and form coloured compounds, e.g. \(CuSO_4\) is blue.
Many, like iron and nickel, act as catalysts; their oxides are basic (not acidic like non-metal oxides), so statement \(1\) is excluded.
✅ Answer: (D)

Question

The box lists four substances.

Which substance is an element that forms a basic oxide and coloured compounds?

A. \(Br_2\)  
B. CO  
C. Cu  
D. Na

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Copper is a transition metal, and transition metals characteristically form coloured compounds (e.g. blue copper(II) sulfate) and basic metal oxides.
Bromine and CO are non-metal/covalent substances, and sodium is a reactive metal forming a simple white basic oxide, not coloured compounds.
✅ Answer: (C)

Question

The first row of the transition elements is shown.

Which statement about transition elements is not correct?

A. They are often used as catalysts.
B. They always form colourless compounds.
C. They have high densities.
D. They have high melting points.

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Transition elements are well known for forming brightly coloured compounds, such as blue copper(II) sulfate or purple potassium manganate(VII), not colourless ones.
They do have high densities, high melting points, and many act as catalysts (e.g. iron, nickel, platinum), so statements A, C and D are all correct.
The claim that they “always” form colourless compounds is the incorrect statement.
✅ Answer: (B)

Question

The diagram shows overlapping circles into which different chemical formulae can be placed.

Which formula can be placed in the shaded area because it has all three properties?

A. Br2
B. CO
C. Cu
D. Na

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Copper is an element, it forms coloured ions (blue \( \text{Cu}^{2+} \) solutions), and its oxide, CuO, is a basic oxide.
Br2 and Na do not form coloured ions or basic oxides, and CO is a compound rather than an element.
Only copper satisfies all three overlapping properties.
✅ Answer: (C)

Question

What is not a property of transition elements?

A. They often act as catalysts.
B. They form coloured compounds.
C. They have high densities.
D. They have low melting points.

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Transition elements are typical metals with high melting points, not low ones.
They do commonly act as catalysts, form coloured compounds, and have high densities.
So “low melting points” is the statement that is not correct.
✅ Answer: (D)
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