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Chemistry Quiz - Metals - Properties and Uses of (Questions)

Metals have useful properties that explain how we use them. This GCSE Chemistry quiz covers conductivity, strength, corrosion, and why alloys are often chosen for real products.

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Fascinating Fact:

Gold is unreactive and does not corrode, so it keeps its shine. It is used in jewellery and in some electronics because it conducts and resists tarnishing.

In GCSE Chemistry, you link the properties of metals to their uses. You look at strength, density, conductivity and melting point, then explain why alloys can outperform pure metals for buildings, vehicles, cables and tools.

Key Terms

  • Conductivity: How well a material lets heat or electricity pass through it.
  • Ductile: Able to be drawn out into a wire without snapping.
  • Alloy: A mixture of a metal with other elements to change its properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main properties of metals in GCSE Chemistry?

Metals are usually strong, have high melting points, and conduct electricity and heat well. Many are malleable or ductile, but some can corrode depending on their reactivity.

Why are metals used for electrical wiring?

Metals are used for wiring because they conduct electricity due to delocalised electrons in the metallic structure. Many metals can also be drawn into wires, which makes them practical to shape and install.

What is an alloy and why do we use alloys instead of pure metals?

An alloy is a mixture designed to improve properties such as strength, hardness or corrosion resistance. Alloys often perform better than pure metals because different-sized atoms disrupt layers and reduce slipping.

Try These Related Quizzes

1. Copper is often used for water pipes and electrical wires. Pick two properties of copper which make it useful for this purpose.
[ ] Good conductor and malleable
[ ] Poor conductor and ductile
[ ] Nice colour and bendy
[ ] Shiny and thin
2. Why is gold used for jewellery?
[ ] It's expensive
[ ] It looks nice
[ ] It is unreactive
[ ] It's very hard
3. Why is aluminium used to make aeroplane bodies?
[ ] It is shiny
[ ] It is very light
[ ] It is cheap
[ ] It is very abundant
4. Why is iron rarely used as pure iron?
[ ] It is too heavy
[ ] It is too expensive
[ ] It is too hard
[ ] It is too brittle
5. Which metal would be the most appropriate to make overhead power lines from?
[ ] Mercury
[ ] Aluminium
[ ] Gold
[ ] Potassium
6. Which metal is the most appropriate to make jewellery from?
[ ] Mercury
[ ] Aluminium
[ ] Gold
[ ] Potassium
7. Why is potassium kept stored in oil?
[ ] It would react with the water in the air
[ ] To keep it shiny
[ ] To keep it lubricated
[ ] To see if it floats
8. Aluminium is a useful metal to use because it does not corrode easily in air. Why?
[ ] It is very unreactive
[ ] It has a protective layer of aluminium oxide on its surface which does not allow air or water to penetrate
[ ] It doesn't react with anything
[ ] It is very reactive
9. Which two of the following statements could explain why aluminium is preferred to iron for making cans for drinks?
[ ] Aluminium is a better conductor than iron
[ ] Aluminium is not as strong as iron
[ ] Aluminium has a lower melting point than iron
[ ] Aluminium corrodes less easily than iron
10. Why is iron better than aluminium for making bridges?
[ ] It is more easily painted
[ ] It is a better insulator
[ ] It has a higher density
[ ] It is harder

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Metals and alloys

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Chemistry Quiz - Metals - Properties and Uses of (Answers)
1. Copper is often used for water pipes and electrical wires. Pick two properties of copper which make it useful for this purpose.
[x] Good conductor and malleable
[ ] Poor conductor and ductile
[ ] Nice colour and bendy
[ ] Shiny and thin
Malleable means that it can be bent or hammered into shape
2. Why is gold used for jewellery?
[ ] It's expensive
[ ] It looks nice
[x] It is unreactive
[ ] It's very hard
It wouldn't be very good if your gold jewellery was reactive with water!
3. Why is aluminium used to make aeroplane bodies?
[ ] It is shiny
[x] It is very light
[ ] It is cheap
[ ] It is very abundant
It is actually aluminium alloys that are used as these are stonger and in some cases lighter than aluminium alone
4. Why is iron rarely used as pure iron?
[ ] It is too heavy
[ ] It is too expensive
[ ] It is too hard
[x] It is too brittle
Pure iron is very hard but also very brittle. Small amounts of carbon (under about 4%) convert the iron into steel, which is much more malleable. Its properties can be changed even further by alloying it with other metals to make it stronger or lighter or corrosion resistant
5. Which metal would be the most appropriate to make overhead power lines from?
[ ] Mercury
[x] Aluminium
[ ] Gold
[ ] Potassium
Aluminium is a very good conductor of electricity and a relatively light metal
6. Which metal is the most appropriate to make jewellery from?
[ ] Mercury
[ ] Aluminium
[x] Gold
[ ] Potassium
Gold is very unreactive and relatively easy to shape since it is a soft metal. It is usually mixed with other metals like copper to make alloys. You can tell the purity of a gold item from the hallmark, the lower the number of carats the less gold there is in the alloy
7. Why is potassium kept stored in oil?
[x] It would react with the water in the air
[ ] To keep it shiny
[ ] To keep it lubricated
[ ] To see if it floats
Potassium is a highly reactive metal that reacts vigorously with water releasing hydrogen gas and forming potassium hydroxide. The reaction is highly exothermic and so much heat is given off that the hydrogen gas ignites. The flame appears purple because of the presence of burning potassium vapour
8. Aluminium is a useful metal to use because it does not corrode easily in air. Why?
[ ] It is very unreactive
[x] It has a protective layer of aluminium oxide on its surface which does not allow air or water to penetrate
[ ] It doesn't react with anything
[ ] It is very reactive
Aluminium is actually quite a reactive metal but when the oxide coating forms, it appears to be a lot less reactive than it is - if you have ever seen the thermite reaction then you will appreciate just how reactive aluminium really is
9. Which two of the following statements could explain why aluminium is preferred to iron for making cans for drinks?
[ ] Aluminium is a better conductor than iron
[ ] Aluminium is not as strong as iron
[ ] Aluminium has a lower melting point than iron
[x] Aluminium corrodes less easily than iron
When answering questions like this, choose relevant properties
10. Why is iron better than aluminium for making bridges?
[ ] It is more easily painted
[ ] It is a better insulator
[ ] It has a higher density
[x] It is harder
Aluminium is a soft metal. Alloying it with other metals to make it harder would be possible but it would be too expensive to use on the scale of even a small bridge
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