Properties of metals and non-metalsIB MYP Sciences: Subtopic test

1. 1
   A workshop in Jaipur makes jewellery and cooking utensils. The craftspeople hammer gold into thin sheets, draw copper into thin wires and use aluminium for lightweight pans. They also use sulfur in the workshop to make a polish.

   (a)

   Which property of gold allows the craftspeople to hammer it into thin sheets?

   [1 mark]

   • ADuctility
   • BElectrical conductivity
   • CMalleability
   • DLustre

   (b)

   Which is a typical property of a non-metal such as sulfur?

   [1 mark]

   • AIt is a good conductor of electricity
   • BIt can be hammered into sheets
   • CIt is shiny when cut
   • DIt is brittle when solid

   (c)

   State two properties of copper that make it suitable for use as electrical wire.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   A student in Dublin is studying the reactivity series, which lists these metals from most reactive to least reactive: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. She then plans some tests using dilute hydrochloric acid and solutions of metal sulfates.

   (a)

   Which metal in the list does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid?

   [1 mark]

   • AZinc
   • BCopper
   • CIron
   • DMagnesium

   (b)

   Iron is added to blue copper sulfate solution. What are the products?

   [1 mark]

   • AIron sulfate and copper
   • BCopper sulfate and iron
   • CIron oxide and copper
   • DThere is no reaction

   (c)

   Explain why there is no reaction when copper is added to zinc sulfate solution.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   A student compares the reactivity of four metals. She adds a 2 cm strip of each metal to 20 cm³ of dilute hydrochloric acid at 20 °C and counts the bubbles produced in one minute. Her results: magnesium about 150 bubbles, zinc about 40, iron about 10 and copper none.

   (a)

   Describe the pattern in the results, and identify one variable that the student should keep constant, giving a reason.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Use the results to put the metals in order of reactivity, and evaluate the method.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   A city in the Gulf is planning a new light-rail line with raised bridges. Engineers are choosing between steel, an alloy of iron with a small amount of carbon, and aluminium for the rail carriages and structures. Pure iron is soft and rusts. Aluminium has a much lower density than steel and is protected from corrosion by a thin layer of aluminium oxide on its surface. Aluminium is extracted from its ore using large amounts of electricity, which makes it more expensive than steel.

   (a)

   Explain why steel is used for structures instead of pure iron, and why metals in general are suitable materials for bridges and rails.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Discuss and evaluate the use of aluminium instead of steel for the rail carriages.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions