2 (a) Fig. 2.1 shows part of Group I of the Periodic Table. lithium 7 3 Li sodium 23 11 Na potassium 39 19 K Fig. 2.1 (i) State the trend in the reactivity of the elements going down Group I. … [1] (ii) Explain why lithium does not react with helium, a Group VIII element. … … [1] (iii) Lithium is a solid and helium is a gas. Describe two differences between the structures of a solid and a gas. 1 … … 2 … … [2] (b) A piece of sodium is added to water, as shown in Fig. 2.2. sodium water Fig. 2.2 The sodium reacts with water. The reaction is exothermic. (i) State one other observation that is seen when sodium reacts with water. … [1] (ii) Complete the word equation for the reaction of sodium with water. sodium + water + [2] (c) X is a compound that reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form sodium chloride and water. Suggest the identity of X. … [1] (d) Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride is broken down by electrolysis. (i) State the type of chemical bond in sodium chloride. … [1] (ii) Identify the product that forms at the anode (positive electrode). … [1] [Total: 10]

2(a)(i) increasing / more reactive / faster reaction ; 1 2(a)(ii) helium / He is, unreactive / inert ; 1 2(a)(iii) any two from: (solid/lithium) particles close(r) (together) ORA ; (solid/lithium) particles regular arrangement ORA ; (solid/lithium) particles vibrate / not free-moving ORA ; 2 2(b)(i) fizzes / bubbles OR gets smaller / disappears OR moves around ; 1 2(b)(ii) sodium + water → sodium hydroxide + hydrogen in either order sodium hydroxide ; hydrogen ; 2 2(c) sodium hydroxide / NaOH OR sodium carbonate / Na2CO3 ; 1 2(d)(i) ionic ; 1 2(d)(ii) chlorine / Cl2 ; 1 (a)(i) You must state that the reactivity of Group I elements increases as you go down the group. (a)(ii) You need to explain that helium is unreactive or inert. (a)(iii) You must describe two differences between the structure of a solid and a gas, such as particle spacing (closer in solid), arrangement (regular in solid), or movement (vibrating in solid, free-moving in gas). (b)(i) You need to describe an observable change when sodium reacts with water, such as fizzing, bubbling, getting smaller, disappearing, or moving around. (b)(ii) You must correctly identify both products of the reaction: sodium hydroxide and hydrogen. (c) You need to name a suitable substance that turns universal indicator purple, such as sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate. (d)(i) You must state that the bonding in sodium chloride is 'ionic'. (d)(ii) You need to identify 'chlorine' as the other product formed when sodium reacts with a Group VII element.

2 (a) The order of reactivity for some metals is shown in Fig. 2.1. most reactive metal A sodium calcium metal B zinc iron least reactive copper Fig. 2.1 (i) Suggest the identities of metals A and B. A … B … [1] (ii) State two observations for the reaction of sodium with water. 1 … 2 … [2] (b) Sodium is in Group I of the Periodic Table. Iron is a transition element. Describe two physical properties of iron that show that it is different from sodium. 1 … 2 … [2] (c) Brass is an alloy of zinc and one other metal. State the name of this other metal. … [1] (d) Recycling metals uses less energy and costs less money than extracting the metals from their ores. State one other reason why metals need to be recycled. … … [1] (e) Sodium and chlorine react together in an exothermic reaction to form sodium chloride. (i) State what is meant by exothermic. … … [1] (ii) Fig. 2.2 shows the electronic structures of a sodium ion, Na+, and a chloride ion, Cl–, in sodium chloride. sodium ion chloride ion ×× × × ×× ×× ×××× ×× × ×× × × ×× ×× × ×× ×× Fig. 2.2 Complete Fig. 2.3 to show the electronic structures of a sodium atom, Na, and a chlorine atom, Cl. sodium atom chlorine atom Fig. 2.3 [2] [Total: 10]

2(a)(i) A potassium AND B magnesium / aluminium ; 1 2(a)(ii) any two from: fizzes / bubbles ; gets smaller ; floats ; moves ; 2 2(b) any two from: (iron has) high(er) density / ORA ; (iron has) high(er) melting point / ORA ; (iron is) magnetic / ORA ; 2 2(c) copper ; 1 2(d) metals are finite (resources) / will run out ; 1 2(e)(i) (thermal) energy is released ; 1 2(e)(ii) (sodium atom) 2, 8, 1 ; (chlorine atom) 2, 8, 7 ; 2

5 (a) An iron paperclip, shown in Fig. 5.1, is used to hold pieces of paper together. Fig. 5.1 Iron can be described as a strong metal. Name one other property of iron that makes it suitable for use as a paperclip. … [1] (b) A spanner, shown in Fig. 5.2, is made from an alloy of iron. Fig. 5.2 (i) Describe what is meant by an alloy. … … [1] (ii) Suggest why the spanner is made from an alloy of iron and not from pure iron. … … [1] (c) Lithium, sodium and potassium are Group I metals. Describe the trend in density and the trend in reaction with water of the Group I metals going down the group. density … … reaction with water … … [2] (d) Copper and iron are part of a collection of metals in the Periodic Table. (i) State the name of this collection of metals. … [1] (ii) Copper and iron are less reactive than Group I metals. Copper and iron have high melting points and high densities, but Group I metals do not. State one other property of copper and iron that is not a property of Group I metals. … [1] (e) When sodium reacts with chlorine, sodium chloride is formed. Fig. 5.3 shows the electronic structures of a sodium atom and of a chlorine atom. sodium atom chlorine atom Fig. 5.3 Sodium chloride contains sodium ions and chloride ions. Complete Fig. 5.4 to show the electronic structures of a sodium ion and a chloride ion. sodium ion chloride ion Fig. 5.4 [2] [Total: 9]

5(a) malleable ; 1 5(b)(i) a mixture of a metal with other element(s) ; 1 5(b)(ii) pure iron is too soft / alloys are stronger / alloys resist, corrosion / rusting ; 1 5(c) (density) increases (down the group) ; (reaction with water) reactivity increases (down the group) ; 2 5(d)(i) transition (elements/metals) ; 1 5(d)(ii) form coloured compounds / (act as) catalysts ; 1 5(e) (sodium ion) 2,8 ; (chloride ion) 2,8,8 ; 2

5 (a) A student investigates the reaction between dilute hydrochloric acid and a 5.0 g piece of zinc using the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.1. dilute hydrochloric acid stopwatch gas apparatus X funnel to collect gas zinc Fig. 5.1 The reaction forms a gas and a solution containing a zinc salt. (i) Complete the word equation for this reaction. zinc + hydrochloric acid + [2] (ii) Name apparatus X. … [1] (iii) Describe a chemical test to show that the solution contains zinc ions, Zn2+. test … result … … [2] (iv) The student repeats the experiment under the same conditions, using 5.0 g of magnesium instead of zinc. State the change to the rate of the reaction, if any, that occurs when magnesium is used instead of zinc. Explain your answer. rate change … explanation … … [1] (b) Zinc and other metals are obtained from their ores. They are also obtained by recycling. Recycling metals costs less than obtaining metals from their ores. State one other reason why metals are recycled. … [1] (c) Lithium, sodium and potassium are Group I metals. Describe one chemical trend and one physical trend in the properties of these metals going down Group I from lithium to potassium. chemical trend … … physical trend … … [2] [Total: 9]

5(a)(i) zinc + hydrochloric acid → zinc chloride + hydrogen zinc chloride ; hydrogen ; 2 5(a)(ii) measuring cylinder ; 1 5(a)(iii) test: aqueous NaOH OR aqueous ammonia ; result: white ppt. (soluble in excess) ; 2 5(a)(iv) rate change: increase / faster AND explanation: magnesium is more reactive (than zinc) ORA ; 1 5(b) ores are a finite resource / will run out ; 1 5(c) chemical trend: more reactive ; physical trend: lower melting point OR higher density ; 2 (a)(i) To earn these marks, you must correctly complete the word equation by identifying 'zinc chloride' and 'hydrogen' as the products. (a)(ii) The mark is earned by naming 'measuring cylinder' as apparatus X. (a)(iii) You need to state a test using aqueous NaOH or aqueous ammonia, and then describe the result as a white precipitate that is soluble in excess. (a)(iv) To earn the mark, you must state that the rate will 'increase' or be 'faster' and explain that magnesium is more reactive than zinc. (b) The mark is earned by stating that ores are a finite resource or will run out. (c) You need to identify 'more reactive' as a chemical trend and either 'lower melting point' or 'higher density' as a physical trend to earn these marks.

Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science · 0653

IGCSE Combined Science (0653) Metals past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Combined Science (0653) — Metals with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

199 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 Combined Science 0653 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Metals accounted for 192 questions worth 715 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	27	127
2021	37	150
2022	34	111
2023	39	122
2024	30	104
2025	25	101

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Paper 1 · 50 qs
Paper 2 · 77 qs
Paper 3 · 33 qs
Paper 4 · 25 qs
Paper 5 · 3 qs
Paper 6 · 4 qs

All most-tested Combined Science topics

2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q2 · 10 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q2 · 10 marks
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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q5 · 9 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q5 · 9 marks
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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 1 · Q23 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q23
Answer: C
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