1 The diagram shows part of the Periodic Table. I II III IV V VI VII VIII Mg Al Ar Cl Br I C N O F Ca Cr Fe Cu Zn Pt K Answer the following questions using only the symbols of the elements in the diagram. Each symbol may be used once, more than once or not at all. Give the symbol of the element that: (a) is extracted from bauxite … [1] (b) forms 21% of clean, dry air … [1] (c) forms an oxide which contributes to acid rain … [1] (d) forms an aqueous ion that gives a red-brown precipitate on addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide … [1] (e) has an atom with a complete outer electron shell. … [1] [Total: 5]

1(a) Al 1 1(b) O 1 1(c) N 1 1(d) Fe 1 1(e) Ar 1 To earn the mark, you must correctly identify the specific element symbol for each description.

1 (a) The electronic structures of five atoms, A, B, C, D and E, are shown. A B C D E Answer the following questions about these electronic structures. Each electronic structure may be used once, more than once or not at all. State which electronic structure, A, B, C, D or E, represents: (i) an atom in Group II of the Periodic Table … [1] (ii) an atom with a proton number of 13 … [1] (iii) an atom that forms a stable ion with a single negative charge … [1] (iv) an atom of a non-metal that forms a giant covalent structure … [1] (v) an atom of a metal used in food containers. … [1] (b) Complete the table to show the number of electrons, neutrons and protons in the vanadium atom and calcium ion shown. number of electrons number of neutrons number of protons 51V 23 23 48Ca2+ 20 28 [3] [Total: 8]

1(a)(i) C 1 1(a)(ii) D 1 1(a)(iii) E 1 1(a)(iv) B 1 1(a)(v) D 1 1(b) number of electrons in Ca ion: = 18 (1) number of neutrons in V = 28 (1) number of protons in V = 23 AND number of protons in Ca ion = 20 (1) 3 (a) To earn marks, you must correctly identify the electronic structure (A, B, C, D, or E) that matches the given description for each sub-part. (b) To earn marks, you must correctly state the number of electrons in the Ca ion, the number of neutrons in V, and the number of protons for both V and the Ca ion.

1 (a) A list of formulae is shown. Br2 CO CO2 CH4 C2H6 HCl KBr LiCl MgCl 2 O2 SO2 Answer the following questions using these formulae. Each formula may be used once, more than once or not at all. State which formula represents: (i) a compound that gives a red colour in a flame test … [1] (ii) a compound containing an ion with a 2+ charge … [1] (iii) a compound that is a product of respiration … [1] (iv) a compound used as a food preservative … [1] (v) an element that is used in the production of steel. … [1] (b) Complete the dot-and-cross diagram to show the electron arrangement in a molecule of hydrogen chloride. Show outer shell electrons only. Cl H [2] (c) State whether carbon dioxide is a basic oxide or an acidic oxide. Give a reason for your answer. … … [1] [Total: 8]

1(a)(i) LiCl 1 1(a)(ii) MgCl2 1 1(a)(iii) CO2 1 1(a)(iv) SO2 1 1(a)(v) O2 1 1(b) bonding pair of electrons between the Cl atom and H atom and no other electrons on hydrogen atom (1) 6 non-bonding electrons on Cl atom (1) 2 1(c) acidic (oxide) AND carbon is a non-metal / non-metal oxides are acidic (1) 1 (a) To earn marks, you must correctly identify the specific chemical formula from the provided list for each description. (b) For the first mark, draw a single bonding pair of electrons between H and Cl, ensuring no other electrons are on the hydrogen atom. For the second mark, show six non-bonding electrons (three lone pairs) on the chlorine atom. (c) You must state that carbon dioxide is an acidic oxide AND provide the reason that carbon is a non-metal or that non-metal oxides are acidic.

3 The diagram shows a blast furnace used in the extraction of iron. mixture of iron ore, coke and limestone molten slag molten iron E B C D (a) Air is blown into the furnace. State which letter on the diagram, B, C, D or E, shows where air is blown into the furnace. … [1] (b) (i) Complete the chemical equation for the reduction of iron(III) oxide in the blast furnace. Fe2O3 + 3C → …Fe + …CO [2] (ii) Explain how this equation shows that iron(III) oxide is reduced. … [1] (c) Calcium carbonate (limestone) is added to the blast furnace. The calcium carbonate undergoes thermal decomposition. (i) Complete the word equation for this reaction. calcium carbonate → … … + … … [2] (ii) One of the products of this reaction reacts with impurities in the iron to form slag. Use the information in the diagram to suggest how you know that molten slag is less dense than molten iron. … [1] (d) (i) Use words from the list to complete these sentences about how steel is made from iron. acidic basic chlorides methane neutral nitrogen oxides oxygen sulfates A gas is blown through the molten iron. The name of this gas is … . Acidic gases are formed. These acidic gases react with … … . [3] (ii) State one use of mild steel. … [1] (iii) Metals such as chromium are added to iron to make stainless steel. The symbol for an isotope of chromium is shown. 53Cr 24 Deduce the number of electrons, neutrons and protons in one atom of this isotope of chromium. number of electrons … number of neutrons … number of protons … [3] (e) Chromium conducts electricity and is shiny. Give two other physical properties of chromium that are characteristic of all metals. 1 … 2 … [2] [Total: 16]

3(a) E 1 3(b)(i) 2 (Fe) (1) 3 (CO) (1) 2 3(b)(ii) iron oxide loses oxygen / it loses oxygen 1 3(c)(i) calcium oxide (1) carbon dioxide (1) 2 3(c)(ii) slag floats above the iron 1 3(d)(i) oxygen (1) basic (1) oxides (1) 3 3(d)(ii) car bodies / machinery 1 3(d)(iii) electrons: 24 (1) neutrons: 29 (1) protons: 24 (1) 3 3(e) 1 mark each for any two of: • conducts heat • malleable • ductile 2 (a) To earn this mark, you must correctly identify E as the letter showing where air is blown into the furnace. (b)(i) To earn the first mark, you must correctly balance the Fe as 2. To earn the second mark, you must correctly balance the CO as 3. (b)(ii) To earn this mark, you must explain that iron oxide loses oxygen or that it loses oxygen. (c)(i) To earn the first mark, you must state 'calcium oxide' as a product. To earn the second mark, you must state 'carbon dioxide' as the other product. (c)(ii) To earn this mark, you must state that slag floats above the iron. (d)(i) To earn the first mark, you must state 'oxygen'. To earn the second mark, you must state 'basic'. To earn the third mark, you must state 'oxides'. (d)(ii) To earn this mark, you must provide a correct use such as 'car bodies' or 'machinery'. (d)(iii) To earn the first mark, you must state 24 for electrons. To earn the second mark, you must state 29 for neutrons. To earn the third mark, you must state 24 for protons. (e) To earn two marks, you must provide any two correct properties from the list: conducts heat, malleable, or ductile.

5 Which description of brass is correct? A alloy B compound C element D non-metal

Answer: A To earn the mark, a student must correctly classify brass as an alloy, which is a mixture of metals.

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry · 0620

IGCSE Chemistry (0620) Metals past paper questions

Metals questions cover reactivity, extraction, and the reactivity series in context.

649 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Metals in IGCSE Chemistry 0620 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Metals accounted for 588 questions worth 2,190 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	102	357
2021	110	390
2022	100	348
2023	98	352
2024	86	338
2025	92	405

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Paper 4 · 57 qs
Paper 5 · 8 qs
Paper 6 · 11 qs

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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q1 · 5 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q1 · 8 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q1 · 8 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q3 · 16 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 1 · Q5 · 1 mark
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Answer: A
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