Paper 2 Metals MCQ Practice
10 multiple-choice questions on metals for IGCSE Chemistry Paper 2. Covers reactivity series, extraction, alloys, rusting, and properties of metals.
Published by IGCSEChemistry.com.my
Chemistry teaching team: K. S. Tan (15+ years teaching IGCSE Chemistry) and Ms Yash (10+ years teaching IGCSE Chemistry) and Ms Kartini (15+ years teaching IGCSE Chemistry).
Mapped to Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 (2026–2028). Last updated 2026-08-19.
Ten multiple-choice questions in the style of IGCSE Chemistry Paper 2. Choose the best answer for each, then check the mark scheme.
Question 1
Which metal reacts most vigorously with dilute hydrochloric acid?
A. Copper B. Iron C. Zinc D. Magnesium
Answer
D
Magnesium is the most reactive of these metals. In the reactivity series: Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu. Copper is below hydrogen and does not react with dilute acids at all. Magnesium produces rapid effervescence with dilute HCl.
Question 2
Which method is used to extract aluminium from its ore?
A. Heating with carbon B. Electrolysis C. Heating in air D. Displacement with iron
Answer
B
Aluminium is above carbon in the reactivity series, so it cannot be reduced by carbon. It must be extracted by electrolysis of molten aluminium oxide (with cryolite added to lower the melting point). Only metals below carbon in the reactivity series can be extracted by heating with carbon.
Question 3
Iron rusts when it is exposed to both:
A. air and water B. air and oil C. water and salt only D. carbon dioxide and water
Answer
A
Rusting requires both oxygen (from air) and water. If either is absent, rusting does not occur. Salt accelerates rusting but is not required for it to happen. The chemical name for rust is hydrated iron(III) oxide.
Question 4
In the reaction Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu, iron displaces copper because:
A. iron is less reactive than copper B. iron is more reactive than copper C. copper is more dense than iron D. iron has a higher melting point
Answer
B
A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution. Iron is above copper in the reactivity series, so iron can displace copper from copper sulfate solution. The iron dissolves (forming green iron(II) sulfate) and copper metal is deposited.
Question 5
Which method prevents rusting by sacrificial protection?
A. Painting the iron surface B. Coating with plastic C. Attaching blocks of zinc to the iron D. Coating with oil
Answer
C
Sacrificial protection involves attaching a more reactive metal (such as zinc or magnesium) to the iron. The more reactive metal corrodes preferentially, protecting the iron even if the surface is scratched. Painting, plastic coating, and oiling are barrier methods that only protect while the coating is intact.
Question 6
An alloy is:
A. a pure metal with special properties B. a compound of two or more metals C. a mixture of a metal with one or more other elements D. a metal extracted by electrolysis
Answer
C
An alloy is a mixture of a metal with one or more other elements (usually other metals or carbon). Alloys are harder than pure metals because the different-sized atoms disrupt the regular arrangement, making it harder for layers to slide over each other. Examples include steel (iron + carbon) and brass (copper + zinc).
Question 7
Which metal can be extracted from its oxide by heating with carbon?
A. Aluminium B. Sodium C. Zinc D. Potassium
Answer
C
Zinc is below carbon in the reactivity series, so carbon can reduce zinc oxide to zinc: ZnO + C → Zn + CO. Aluminium, sodium, and potassium are above carbon, so they cannot be extracted by reduction with carbon and require electrolysis instead.
Question 8
Why are pure metals generally softer than alloys?
A. Pure metals have stronger metallic bonds. B. In pure metals, layers of identical atoms can slide easily over each other. C. Alloys have weaker bonds between atoms. D. Pure metals have fewer electrons.
Answer
B
In a pure metal, the atoms are all the same size and arranged in regular layers. These layers can slide over each other easily, making the metal soft and malleable. In an alloy, atoms of different sizes disrupt the regular layering, preventing the layers from sliding and making the alloy harder.
Question 9
Galvanising is a method of rust prevention that involves:
A. coating iron with a layer of tin B. coating iron with a layer of zinc C. coating iron with a layer of copper D. mixing iron with chromium
Answer
B
Galvanising is the process of coating iron or steel with a layer of zinc. The zinc acts as both a barrier (keeping air and water away from the iron) and as sacrificial protection (zinc is more reactive than iron and corrodes first). Even if the zinc coating is scratched, the iron underneath is still protected.
Question 10
Which observation confirms that zinc is more reactive than copper?
A. Zinc has a higher melting point than copper. B. Zinc displaces copper from copper sulfate solution. C. Zinc is a better electrical conductor than copper. D. Zinc is lighter than copper.
Answer
B
When zinc is placed in copper sulfate solution, a displacement reaction occurs. The zinc dissolves and copper metal is deposited on the zinc. This confirms zinc is more reactive because it displaces the less reactive copper from its salt solution. Melting point, conductivity, and density are physical properties unrelated to chemical reactivity.
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