Chapter 10
DSE past paper (by chapters) ANSWERS
Occurrence and extraction of metals
MC Questions
1. DSE2020/1A/7
Refer to the information in the table below:
Rank order of Hardness Rank order of Price
Material Density / g cm-3
(1 = hardest) (1 = cheapest)
P 4 8.9 4
Q 3 7.8 1
R 2 10.5 3
S 1 2.7 2
Which is the best material to make aircraft body?
A. P
B. Q
C. R
D. S
2. DSE2019/1A/17
Which of the following metal oxides can be reduced to a metal when heated with carbon using a Bunsen
burner?
(1) lead(II) oxide
(2) magnesium oxide
(3) copper(II) oxide
A. (1) only
B. (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
Chapter 10
DSE past paper (by chapters) ANSWERS
Occurrence and extraction of metals
3. DSE2018/1A/3
A certain mass of a sample of Ag2O(s) is strongly heated in a test tube. Which of the following shows the
relationship of the mass of the contents (m) in the test tube with time (t) from the start of heating?
A. B.
C. D.
4. DSE2017/1A/9
Which of the following processes would NOT produce metal?
A. heating zinc oxide
B. heating copper(II) oxide with carbon
C. electrolysis of molten lithium chloride
D. heating iron(III) oxide with carbon monoxide
5. DSE2014/1A/14
As shown in the diagram below, the glowing splint relights when solid Z is heated.
Which of the following chemicals may Z be?
A. HgO
B. Al2O3
C. CaCO3
Chapter 10
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Occurrence and extraction of metals
D. MgCO3
6. DSE2013/1A/5
Which of the following methods can be used to obtain magnesium from magnesium compounds?
A. electrolysis of a molten magnesium compound
B. electrolysis of an aqueous solution of a magnesium compound
C. heating magnesium oxide with carbon
D. heating magnesium oxide strongly
Structural Questions
7. DSE 2013/1B/7(c)
The extraction of iron from its ores also involves the reduction of iron oxides.
(i) Suggest why aluminium is NOT used as the reducing agent in iron extraction.
(ii) Suggest ONE reducing agent commonly used in iron extraction.
(2 marks)
(i) Aluminium is more expensive than iron. 1
(ii) (ii) coke / carbon / charcoal / carbon monoxide / CO 1
8. DSE/14/1B/*4
With reference to the methods of obtaining copper, magnesium and silver from their oxides, deduce the
order of reactivity of these three metals.
(5 marks)
• Silver can be obtained by heating oxide of silver directly, while copper and magnesium 1
cannot be obtained by a similar method.
• By heating with charcoal, oxide of copper can be reduced to copper, while magnesium 1
cannot be obtained by similar method.
• Magnesium can only be obtained by electrolysis of its oxide in molten state. 1
• As more stable is the metal oxide, the more reactive is the metal. So, the order of reactivity 1
is: magnesium > copper > silver
Communication mark 1
Chapter 10
DSE past paper (by chapters) ANSWERS
Occurrence and extraction of metals
9. DSE2021/1B/6(a)(b)(d)
Lead can be obtained from lead(II) oxide using the experimental set-up shown below. Besides lead, nitrogen gas
and steam are also formed.
(a) Suggest a reason for each of the following:
(i) The reaction tube is placed in a downward slanted position.
(ii) The experiment is performed in a fume cupboard. (2 marks)
(b) Write a chemical equation for the reaction. (1 mark)
(d) Lead can also be obtained from lead(II) oxide using carbon.
(i) Write a chemical equation for the reaction.
(ii) The diagram below shows an incomplete set-up for performing the reaction:
(1) Add suitable drawing (with label) to the diagram for completing the set-up.
(2) Name apparatus W. (3 marks)
(a) (i) Avoid the cracking of reaction tube due to the flowing back of (condensed) water 1
formed.
(ii) Ammonia is poisonous / flammable / corrosive / with a pungent smell / irritating/ 1
choking.
Lead(II) oxide is toxic / may cause cancer. (Not accept: “lead oxide”)
Lead is toxic / may cause cancer.
(b) 3PbO(s) + 2NH3(g) → 3Pb(s) + N2(g) + 3H2O(l) 1
State symbols not required)
(d) (i) 2PbO(s) + C(s) → 2Pb(s) + CO2(g) 1
PbO(s) + C(s) → Pb(s) + CO(g)
Chapter 10
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Occurrence and extraction of metals
(State symbols not required)
(ii) (1) 1
(Labelled drawing with a (lighted) burner.)
(Accept: Bunsen burner with wire gauze and tripod)
(2) crucible† 1