10 free IGCSE Chemistry Metals questions written in the style of Cambridge Chemistry papers: 2 multiple-choice and 8 structured, each with its answer and mark scheme. 4 of them are A* challenge questions, built to catch the mistakes strong students still make.
This topic covers Properties & uses of metals, Alloys, Reactivity series, Corrosion, Extraction of metals. Work through the questions below, then generate a full Metals paper with a fresh set every time.
Generate a full Metals paper →Why is aluminium oxide dissolved in molten cryolite during the extraction of aluminium?
Answer: B
What is an alloy?
Answer: B
Zinc is extracted from zinc blende (ZnS).
Describe the two stages in the extraction of zinc.
Suggest why sulfur dioxide is not released into the air.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | roast to ZnO; reduce with carbon roast zinc sulfide in air to form zinc oxide (and sulfur dioxide) B1 heat zinc oxide with carbon B1 zinc is reduced B1 | 3 |
| (b) | acid rain / used to make sulfuric acid it causes acid rain (it is used to make sulfuric acid) B1 | 1 |
The reactivity series includes carbon and hydrogen.
Explain how the position of carbon in the reactivity series is used in extracting metals.
Explain why copper does not react with dilute acids.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | metals below carbon reduced by carbon metals less reactive than carbon (e.g. iron, zinc) can be extracted by heating their oxides with carbon B1 more reactive metals need electrolysis B1 | 2 |
| (b) | below hydrogen copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series B1 | 1 |
A student adds pieces of metal to dilute hydrochloric acid and observes the bubbles.
Place magnesium, zinc and copper in order of reactivity, most reactive first, and state what is seen with copper.
Explain, in terms of electrons, why magnesium is more reactive than zinc.
Predict whether zinc reacts with aqueous copper(II) sulfate. Explain your answer.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Mg > Zn > Cu; no bubbles Mg, Zn, Cu B1 no reaction/no bubbles with copper B1 | 2 |
| (b) | loses electrons more easily magnesium atoms lose electrons more readily to form positive ions B1 | 1 |
| (c) | yes; zinc more reactive displaces copper yes B1 zinc is more reactive than copper, so it displaces copper from its salt B1 | 2 |
Ships are protected from rusting by blocks of zinc or magnesium attached to the hull.
Explain how these blocks protect the iron.
Explain why the blocks must be replaced from time to time.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | more reactive, corrode instead zinc/magnesium are more reactive than iron B1 they are oxidised/corrode instead (sacrificial protection) B1 | 2 |
| (b) | they corrode away they are used up as they corrode B1 | 1 |
Metals can be placed in a reactivity series by their reactions with water and steam.
Describe the reaction of calcium with cold water.
Write the word equation for the reaction of magnesium with steam.
Explain why aluminium appears less reactive than expected.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | fizzes, forms calcium hydroxide and hydrogen bubbles/fizzes B1 calcium hydroxide and hydrogen form B1 | 2 |
| (b) | magnesium + steam → magnesium oxide + hydrogen magnesium + steam → magnesium oxide + hydrogen B1 | 1 |
| (c) | protective oxide layer it has a protective layer of aluminium oxide B1 | 1 |
Steel is an alloy of iron with carbon and other elements.
Describe how the properties of mild steel and high-carbon steel differ.
Name the elements added to iron to make stainless steel.
Draw/describe the arrangement of atoms in an alloy.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | mild: soft, malleable; high-carbon: hard, brittle mild steel is softer and more malleable B1 high-carbon steel is harder but more brittle B1 | 2 |
| (b) | chromium and nickel chromium B1 nickel B1 | 2 |
| (c) | different-sized atoms disrupting layers atoms of different sizes among the metal atoms, disrupting the regular layers B1 | 1 |
Metals react with water, steam and acids.
Describe what is seen when magnesium ribbon is placed in dilute hydrochloric acid.
Name the products of the reaction of zinc with steam.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | fizzing; magnesium dissolves; gets warm Any 2 of: bubbles/effervescence; magnesium dissolves/gets smaller; solution gets warm B2 | 2 |
| (b) | zinc oxide and hydrogen zinc oxide B1 hydrogen B1 | 2 |
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Steel is an alloy of iron.
Define an alloy.
Explain, in terms of structure, why alloys are harder than pure metals.
Give a use of stainless steel and the property that makes it suitable.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | mixture of metal with other elements a mixture of a metal with other elements (usually metals) B1 | 1 |
| (b) | different sized atoms stop layers sliding different-sized atoms disrupt the regular layers B1 the layers cannot slide over each other easily B1 | 2 |
| (c) | cutlery; resists corrosion cutlery/surgical instruments B1 resistant to rusting B1 | 2 |
In the 0620 syllabus, Metals covers Properties & uses of metals, Alloys, Reactivity series, Corrosion, Extraction of metals.
This page has 10 Metals questions with answers. For more, the free generator on mentorriyaz.in builds a new Metals paper with a full mark scheme each time you click.
Riyaz Shaikh has mentored IGCSE, IB and A Level students for 15+ years, one-on-one, online and in Mumbai. The hardest questions on this site are the ones he uses to find a student's weak points.
Meet Riyaz →Original Cambridge-style practice questions written for mentorriyaz.in. These are not Cambridge past paper questions, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Updated 2026-11-04. Paper generator · mentorriyaz.in