Reactivity series — Paper 2 · IGCSE Science - Combined 0653

25 Iron occurs in the ground as iron oxide. Gold occurs in the ground as the element. Which statement explains this observation? A Gold is more reactive than iron. B Gold oxide is more reactive than iron oxide. C Iron is more reactive than gold. D Iron oxide is more reactive than gold oxide.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/22 Feb/March 2017

25 X, Y and Z are three metallic elements. When Z is heated with the oxide of X, the element X is formed. When X is added to a solution of Y2+ ions no reaction takes place. What is the order of reactivity of the metals? least most reactive reactive A X Y Z B Y X Z C Y Z X D Z Y X

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/21 May/June 2017

25 Which pair of substances produces a metal when they are mixed together? A copper and aqueous iron(II) ions B iron and aqueous zinc ions C magnesium and aqueous copper(II) ions D zinc and aqueous magnesium ions

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2017

23 Astatine is at the bottom of Group VII of the Periodic Table. What happens if astatine is added to aqueous potassium chloride? A A black precipitate is formed. B Chlorine is formed. C No reaction takes place. D The colour of the solution becomes darker.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/22 Feb/March 2018

25 Which statement about metals is not correct? A Calcium is extracted from its ore by electrolysis. B Compounds containing metals are ionic and the metal is always the positive ion. C Magnesium is more reactive than iron because it forms positive ions less easily than iron. D Some metals react with dilute hydrochloric acid to give hydrogen.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2018

25 Which statement about metals is not correct? A Copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series. B Lithium produces a flame when a small piece is added to cold water. C Magnesium reacts with steam to produce hydrogen. D Zinc reacts with copper ions to form zinc ions and copper.

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0653/21 Oct/Nov 2018

25 Which metal most readily forms positive ions? A calcium B copper C iron D zinc

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/22 Oct/Nov 2018

25 What is observed when magnesium ribbon is placed into aqueous copper sulfate? A The blue solution gets darker and a brown solid appears. B The blue solution gets darker and no solid is visible. C The blue solution gets paler and a brown solid appears. D The blue solution gets paler and no solid is visible.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/23 Oct/Nov 2018

23 P, Q, R and S are four metallic elements. An atom of S forms an ion by losing only one electron. When Q is added to a solution of R2+ ions, metal R is produced. P reacts with cold water to form hydrogen. What are P, Q, R and S? P Q R S A calcium magnesium copper sodium B copper magnesium iron potassium C potassium copper zinc sodium D sodium zinc iron magnesium

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/21 May/June 2019

23 Zinc reacts with chromium oxide. The reaction equation is shown. 3Zn + Cr2O3 → 2Cr + 3ZnO Which statement about this reaction is correct? A Chromium is above zinc in the reactivity series. B Chromium oxide is the oxidising agent because it gains oxygen. C Chromium oxide is the reducing agent because it loses oxygen. D Zinc is the reducing agent because it gains oxygen.

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2019

23 In which mixture does the metal displace the aqueous metal ion? A copper and magnesium sulfate solution B iron and zinc sulfate solution C magnesium and copper sulfate solution D zinc and magnesium sulfate solution

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/23 May/June 2019

24 Which ionic equation represents a more reactive metal displacing a less reactive metal? A Cu + Mg2+ → Cu2+ + Mg B Mg + Ca2+ → Mg2+ + Ca C Zn + Mg2+ → Zn2+ + Mg D Zn + Cu2+ → Zn2+ + Cu

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/22 Feb/March 2020

25 Copper can be made from copper oxide by reacting it with carbon at a high temperature. Why is carbon used? A It does not react with copper. B It is a conductor of electricity. C It is a high melting point solid. D It is more reactive than copper.

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/21 May/June 2020

17 Aluminium displaces copper from an aqueous solution of its ions. xAl + yCu2+ → xAl 3+ + yCu Which values of x and y balance the equation? x y A 1 2 B 2 1 C 2 3 D 3 2

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2020

24 Atoms and ions of metals P, Q and R take part in two reactions. The equations for these reactions are shown. P + 2Q+ → P2+ + 2Q R + P2+ → R2+ + P Which statements are correct? 1 P is more reactive than R. 2 P is less reactive than Q. 3 R is more reactive than Q. 4 R loses electrons most readily. A 1 and 2 B 1 and 3 C 2 and 4 D 3 and 4

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2020

25 Copper can be made from copper oxide by reacting it with carbon at a high temperature. Why is carbon used? A It does not react with copper. B It is a conductor of electricity. C It is a high melting point solid. D It is more reactive than copper.

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2020

24 Which equation represents a correct displacement reaction involving halogens? A 2NaBr + I2  Br2 + 2NaI B 2NaCl + Br2  Cl 2 + 2NaBr C 2NaF + I2  F2 + 2NaI D 2NaI + Cl 2  I2 + 2NaCl

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2021

25 Element X is a metal. X is more reactive than aluminium. Which method is used to obtain X? A electrolysis of a molten salt of X B electrolysis of an aqueous solution of a salt of X C heating the oxide of X with carbon D heating the oxide of X with hydrogen

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2021

25 Four metals, W, X, Y and Z, are added to aqueous solutions of their salts. W displaces Y. Y displaces X. Z displaces Y but does not displace W. Which row shows the reactivity order of the metals? least most reactive reactive A X Y Z W B X Z Y W C W Y Z X D W Z Y X

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/23 May/June 2021

18 Magnesium reacts with copper oxide. The equation for this reaction is shown. Mg + CuO  MgO + Cu Which substance is acting as an oxidising agent in this reaction? A Cu B CuO C Mg D MgO

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0653/21 Oct/Nov 2021

24 Four metals E, F, G and H are mixed with solutions of metal salts. The results are shown. metal metal salt result H E chloride no reaction E F chloride reacts E G chloride reacts F H chloride no reaction G H chloride reacts What is the order of reactivity of these metals, from most to least reactive? A E  H  G  F B E  G  H  F C F  H  G  E D F  G  H  E

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0653/21 Oct/Nov 2021

18 Aluminium reacts with iron oxide to produce iron. The equation is shown. 2Al + Fe2O3  Al 2O3 + 2Fe Which row identifies the oxidising agent and the reducing agent? oxidising agent reducing agent A Fe Al B Fe Al 2O3 C Fe2O3 Al D Fe2O3 Al 2O3

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/22 Oct/Nov 2021

24 Which two substances react together? A aluminium and aqueous magnesium sulfate B copper and aqueous iron(II) sulfate C iron and aqueous zinc sulfate D zinc and aqueous copper sulfate

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/22 Oct/Nov 2021

24 The results of mixing metal X with aqueous metal ions are shown. X + Zn2+  X2+ + Zn X + Cu2+  X2+ + Cu X + Mg2+  Mg2+ + X What is the position of X in the reactivity series? most least reactive reactive A X Mg Zn Cu B Mg X Zn Cu C Mg Zn X Cu D Mg Zn Cu X

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0653/23 Oct/Nov 2021

23 X, Y and Z are three metals. When Z is heated with the oxide of X, the metal X is formed. When X is added to a solution of Y2+ ions, no reaction takes place. What is the order of reactivity of the metals? least most reactive reactive A X Y Z B Y X Z C Y Z X D Z Y X

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/22 Feb/March 2022

22 The equation for the reaction between zinc and aqueous iron(II) sulfate is shown. Zn(s) + FeSO4(aq)  ZnSO4(aq) + Fe(s) Which statements about this reaction are correct? 1 Zinc atoms give electrons to iron ions. 2 Iron atoms have a greater tendency to form positive ions than zinc atoms. 3 Zinc displaces iron because it is more reactive than iron. A 1 and 2 only B 1 and 3 only C 2 and 3 only D 1, 2 and 3

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0653/21 May/June 2022

22 Which statements about the reactivity series of metals are correct? 1 Iron is higher in the reactivity series than copper because it cannot be extracted from its oxide using carbon. 2 Sodium is higher in the reactivity series than copper because it has a greater tendency to form positive ions. 3 Magnesium is higher in the reactivity series than zinc because it can displace zinc ions from aqueous solution. A 1 and 2 only B 1 and 3 only C 2 and 3 only D 1, 2 and 3

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2022

22 In which mixture is the aqueous metal ion displaced by the metal? A Cu2+ and Zn B Fe2+ and Cu C Mg2+ and Zn D Zn2+ and Fe

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/23 May/June 2022

24 Copper oxide and excess carbon are mixed together. The mass before heating is 12.2 g. The mixture is heated strongly and allowed to cool. The mass after heating is 10.4 g. Why does the mass change? A Carbon forms carbon dioxide which then combines with the copper oxide. B Carbon reduces the copper oxide and leaves the test-tube as carbon dioxide. C Copper oxide loses oxygen, turns into copper and the carbon remains unchanged. D Carbon oxidises the copper oxide and leaves the test-tube as carbon dioxide.

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0653/21 May/June 2023

20 Iron displaces copper from copper oxide. Fe + CuO  FeO + Cu Magnesium displaces iron from iron oxide. Mg + FeO  Fe + MgO Which statement about these reactions is correct? A Copper oxide and iron oxide are being oxidised. B Iron is a stronger oxidising agent than copper. C Magnesium and iron are being reduced. D Magnesium is a stronger reducing agent than iron.

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/23 May/June 2023

24 Which statements about metals and their compounds are correct? 1 Copper reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to give hydrogen. 2 Carbon does not react with aluminium oxide. 3 Hydrogen is formed when steam is passed over heated zinc. 4 Iron is more reactive than magnesium. A 1 and 2 B 1 and 3 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/21 Oct/Nov 2023

20 Dilute hydrochloric acid is added to powdered solid X. Hydrogen gas is produced. dilute hydrochloric acid powdered solid X What is X? A zinc B zinc carbonate C zinc hydroxide D zinc oxide

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/22 Oct/Nov 2023

24 Which substance does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce copper chloride? A copper B copper carbonate C copper hydroxide D copper oxide

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/22 Oct/Nov 2023

25 Part of the reactivity series of metals is shown. calcium most reactive magnesium aluminium iron copper silver least reactive Metal X is the most reactive metal that can be extracted from its ore using carbon. Where is X placed in the reactivity series? A above calcium B between aluminium and iron C between copper and silver D between magnesium and aluminium

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0653/22 Oct/Nov 2023

20 Which element reacts with dilute sulfuric acid to form a salt? A carbon B copper C sulfur D zinc

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/23 Oct/Nov 2023

24 Which row shows elements in order of reactivity? most reactive least reactive A aluminium iron zinc hydrogen B calcium carbon aluminium copper C magnesium zinc hydrogen copper D sodium potassium magnesium aluminium

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/23 Oct/Nov 2023

23 Astatine is an element near the bottom of Group VII in the Periodic Table. Which row shows properties of astatine? physical state at reacts with room temperature iodide ions A gas no B solid no C gas yes D solid yes

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0653/21 May/June 2024

25 Which statement about the reactivity of metals is correct? A Sodium is very reactive because its atoms attract electrons very strongly. B Aluminium is more reactive than magnesium because aluminium forms 3+ ions but magnesium forms 2+ ions. C Calcium is a reactive metal because it forms very strong covalent bonds with other elements. D Copper is less reactive than magnesium because magnesium has a greater tendency to form positive ions.

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0653/23 May/June 2024

24 Which metal can be obtained by passing hydrogen over its heated metal oxide? A copper B magnesium C iron D zinc

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/21 Oct/Nov 2024

22 Which element does not produce a gas when added to dilute hydrochloric acid? A copper B iron C magnesium D zinc

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0653/22 May/June 2025

19 Which metal reacts most quickly with cold water? A calcium B magnesium C potassium D sodium

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0653/21 Oct/Nov 2025