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Metals | IGCSE Chemistry (0620)

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CS-991 · Module I-9

9 · Metals

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 · Core + Supplement · 2026–2028
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📊 Reactivity Series🔧 Alloys

9.1 Reactivity Series and Extraction

A simplified reactivity series, most to least reactive: Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Aluminium, (Carbon), Zinc, Iron, (Hydrogen), Copper, Silver, Gold.

  • Very reactive metals (above carbon): extracted by electrolysis of molten compounds.
  • Moderately reactive metals (below carbon): extracted by reduction with carbon.
  • Unreactive metals (e.g. gold): often found native, requiring no chemical extraction.
🎥 Video lectures for this sub-topic — coming soon
Q1: A metal below carbon in the reactivity series is typically extracted by:
a) Electrolysis b) Reduction with carbon c) It's found native d) Distillation
Show Answer
✅ b) Reduction with carbon
Q2: Aluminium is extracted by electrolysis because it is:
a) Below carbon in reactivity b) Above carbon in reactivity c) Unreactive d) Found native
Show Answer
✅ b) Above carbon in reactivity

9.2 Alloys

An alloy is a mixture of a metal with one or more other elements, designed to improve properties like strength or corrosion resistance. Examples: steel (iron + carbon), brass (copper + zinc). Alloys are generally harder than pure metals because different-sized atoms disrupt the regular layers, making it harder for them to slide over each other.

🎥 Video lectures for this sub-topic — coming soon
Q1: Steel is an alloy of iron and:
a) Zinc b) Carbon c) Tin d) Silver
Show Answer
✅ b) Carbon
Q2: Alloys are generally harder than pure metals because:
a) They have fewer atoms b) Different-sized atoms disrupt the regular layer structure c) They contain no metal atoms d) They are always liquid
Show Answer
✅ b) Different-sized atoms disrupt the regular layer structure
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