Student Book Answers
SC13a Transition metals
Student Book
4th 1 in the central block, between groups
2 and 3
5th 2 malleable
6th 3 Bronze contains metals/transition metal.
Metals are shiny when polished, so
bronze reflects light well.
6th 4 Mercury melts at –39 °C, which is below
room temperature, and boils at 356 °C,
which is above room temperature.
6th 5 Aluminium oxide is colourless/white,
but rubies contain a transition metal/
chromium/transition metal compound.
6th 6 Platinum and rhodium are the catalysts;
they are transition metals, and these
show catalytic activity.
S1 Answer should include several points including
that iron: has a high density (7.87 g/cm3);
high melting point (1538 °C); forms coloured
compounds, such as red-brown iron(II) oxide,
pale green iron(II) hydroxide and orange-
brown iron(III) hydroxide; gives aquamarine
gemstones their colour; has catalytic activity,
such as in the Haber process to make
ammonia.
E1 The answer should compare the typical
properties of transition metals with those of
metals, such as sodium and aluminium, using
data to support the comparison. Transition
metals have higher densities; transition
metals have higher melting points; transition
metals and their compounds usually have
catalytic activity, but other metals usually do
not; transition metal compounds are usually
coloured, but compounds of other metals are
usually white or colourless.
Exam-style question
Physical property: titanium has a higher melting
point/higher density. (1)
Chemical property: titanium is less reactive;
titanium forms coloured compounds, but potassium
forms white or colourless compounds; titanium acts
as a catalyst, but potassium does not. (1)
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SC13b Corrosion
Student Book
6th 1 Magnesium ribbon is covered with a
dull layer of magnesium oxide. The
sandpaper removes this, revealing the
magnesium below, which is silvery.
9th 2 4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3
10th 3 Ag → Ag+ + e–
10th 4 Tarnishing and corrosion both involve
oxidation of a metal and happen at the
surface, but tarnishing produces a layer
that prevents further reaction/oxidation.
Oxidation continues with corrosion.
5 Iron gains oxygen/iron atoms lose
9th
electrons.
6 Oil and paint keep air and water away
6th
from the chain, but paint will be rubbed
off, so it will gradually stop protecting the
chain. The oil does not get rubbed off.
The oil lubricates the chain.
8th
7 Zinc is more reactive than iron/zinc loses
electrons more easily than iron does.
Zinc acts as a sacrificial metal. The zinc
blocks oxidise before the iron does.
S1 Iron needs air and water to rust. Some
methods exclude air; for example, storing
in an unreactive atmosphere of nitrogen or
argon. Some methods exclude water; for
example, using a desiccant to absorb water.
Some methods exclude both air and water; for
example, painting, coating with plastic, oiling
and greasing. Sacrificial protection uses a
more reactive metal than iron, such as zinc or
magnesium, which oxidises more easily than
iron.
E1 Answer could include: place identical iron nails
in two test tubes; add distilled water to one
test tube and salt solution to the other test
tube; leave for a few days/same length of time.
Answer should indicate a way to determine
degree of rusting; for example, visual
observations/dry the nail then scrape the rust
off and use a balance to determine its mass.
Exam-style question
Sodium is more reactive than iron (1) so it could act
as a sacrificial metal (1), but it is too reactive/will
react too quickly to be useful (1).

SC13c Electroplating
Student Book
5th 1 to improve its appearance; to improve its
resistance to corrosion/rusting
5th 2a Copper tarnishes in air/when the cables
are disconnected.
7th 2b Gold does not tarnish in air/when the
cables are disconnected.
7th 2c Gold is the third best electrical
conductor/not as good at conducting
electricity as copper; gold is much more
expensive than copper.
6th 3 chromium as the anode; solution
containing chromium ions as the
electrolyte; steel exhaust pipe as the
cathode
8th 4 oxidation, because silver atoms lose
electrons
9th 5 At nickel anode: Ni(s) → Ni2+(aq)
+ 2e–
At cathode: Ni2+(aq) + 2e– → Ni(s)
8th 6a Galvanising improves its resistance
to corrosion/rusting, and improves its
appearance.
7th 6b zinc as the anode; solution containing
zinc ions as the electrolyte; the gate as
the cathode; put the anode and cathode
in the electrolyte; pass a d.c. current
through them
S1 Electroplating a metal with another metal
may improve its appearance, and improve its
resistance to corrosion/rusting. Example such
as silver plating/gold plating/zinc plating/tin
plating/chrome plating.
E1 Jewellery can be solid metals such as
gold or silver; these metals are expensive.
Electroplating cheaper metals with gold or
silver produces jewellery that looks expensive
but is cheaper. The resistance of the
electroplated metal to corrosion is better than
that of the cheaper metal but the same as that
of solid gold or silver.
Bathroom fittings get wet, so resistance to
corrosion is important. Steel rusts when
exposed to air and water. Electroplating
with less reactive metals such as chromium
improves resistance to corrosion and also
improves the appearance of the fittings.
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Student Book Answers
Exam-style question
Two from the following, for one mark each: to
improve its appearance; to improve its resistance to
corrosion; to make a medal that looks like gold but
is cheaper than gold alone.
SC13d Alloying
Student Book
4th 1 It is a mixture of a metal/iron with one or
more other elements/carbon.
9th 2 4Cr + 3O2 → 2Cr2O3
6th 3 Stainless steel does not rust/will not
become rusty/will not react with body
fluids.
7th 4 Mild steel is not as strong (as the other
two steels), so more of it would be
needed/a greater thickness would be
needed to achieve the same strength.
8th 5 Metal atoms are arranged in a regular
3D arrangement. Different sized atoms
distort the structure in all directions,
making it difficult for layers to move past
each other in all directions.
8th 6 Pure iron is too soft/weak. Wrought iron
is stronger than pure iron but weaker
than alloy steels. Cars would be much
heavier if they were made from iron or
wrought iron.
S1 Examples with reasons, for example: alloys are
often stronger than the metals they contain,
so are more useful for bridges; alloys such as
stainless steel resist corrosion, unlike iron, so
are useful for kitchen sinks; some alloys/tool
steels are very tough compared with iron, so
are useful for drill bits.
E1 Pure metals differ in strength. Atoms of
different elements are different sizes, so they
distort the structure in an alloy, making it more
difficult for layers to move past each other,
making the alloy stronger. But if the atoms
of the different metals are the same/similar
size, the alloy may not be stronger than the
individual metals.
Exam-style question
Three of the following points for one mark each:
gold atoms are all the same size; in pure gold, the
layers of atoms can slide past each other; copper
atoms are a different size; copper atoms distort the
structure, which stops layers of gold atoms sliding
past each other and makes the structure stronger.

SC13e Uses of metals and their
alloys
Student Book
6th 1 It resists corrosion/will not corrode; it is
malleable/can be bent into shape.
6th
2 Gold resists corrosion/stays shiny; it is
malleable/can be made into thin sheets;
it is attractive; thin leaf is cheaper than
making the whole statue or frame out
of gold.
6th 3 Cable made from several wires is
stronger than a single wire; steel is very
strong; aluminium conducts electricity well.
8th 4 Aluminium is cheaper than copper;
aluminium is stronger than copper;
aluminium does not conduct electricity
as well as copper does; aluminium is
less dense than copper; both metals
resist corrosion.
Conclusion, for example, copper is used
in household cables because these are
short, so the ability to conduct electricity
well is important but cost/strength/weight
are less important; aluminium is used in
overhead cables because these are long
and cost/strength/weight are important,
but the ability to conduct electricity well
is less important.
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Student Book Answers
6th 5 It resists corrosion, so it will stay shiny.
It is strong, so it will not bend/not wear
away easily.
7th 6 Aircraft parts need to be strong and
lightweight. Magnalium is denser
than magnesium but twice as strong.
Magnalium is less dense than aluminium
and almost four times stronger.
S1 Different metals have different properties.
The uses of a metal depend on its properties.
The properties of a metal may also depend
on its uses; for example, gold can be made
thin enough to see through or thick enough to
make jewellery.
E1 Alloys may have properties that make them
better suited than pure metals to a particular
use; for example, they may be stronger/
harder/more corrosion resistant/less dense.
The composition of alloys can be altered
to give different properties; for example,
magnalium can be a useful engineering metal
or a flammable powder, depending on the
amount of magnesium it contains. Some uses
may require pure metal; for example, copper
conducts electricity better than brass does, so
it is more suitable for electrical wires, but brass
is stronger and more suitable for electrical
plug pins.
Exam-style question
Two of the following points for one mark each:
copper resists corrosion; copper is a similar colour
to gold; copper is malleable/ductile; copper is
cheaper than gold.