ConceptConceptDocsDocuments

CAIE IGCSE Chemistry 9.6 Extraction of metals Question Bank

Practise linking metal extraction methods to reactivity, ores, blast furnace reactions and aluminium electrolysis evidence.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Chemistry 0620

Exam points

  • choose carbon reduction or electrolysis from a metal's position in the reactivity series
  • interpret blast furnace reagents, products and equations for iron extraction
  • link bauxite, purified aluminium oxide and molten cryolite to aluminium extraction

Covered syllabus points

9.6.1—Ease in obtaining metals from their9.6.2—Iron extraction from hematite in a9.6.3—Main ore of aluminium is bauxite and9.6.4—Symbol equations for the extraction of9.6.5—Aluminium extraction from purified

9.6 Extraction of metals question 1

[Maximum number: 4]

Some elements are shown in the order they appear in the reactivity series. The most reactive element is at the top.
> sodium calcium magnesium aluminium zinc iron hydrogen copper

Question (a)

(a)

Name the main ores of:

[ 2 ]

Question (i)

(i)

zinc [1]

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

aluminium.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Name two metals from the list which are extracted by reduction of their ores using carbon.

1
2

[ 2 ]

9.6 Extraction of metals question 2

[Maximum number: 11]

Iron ore contains iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3\mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}. A blast furnace is used to extract iron from Fe2O3\mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}.
Equations for some of the reactions in the blast furnace are shown.

equation \(1 \mathrm{C}+\mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow \mathrm{CO}_{2}\)

equation \(2 \mathrm{CaCO}_{3} \rightarrow \mathrm{CaO}+\mathrm{CO}_{2}\)

equation \(3 \quad \mathrm{CaO}+\mathrm{SiO}_{2} \rightarrow \mathrm{CaSiO}_{3}\)

Question (a)

(a)

Equation 1 shows the combustion of carbon in the blast furnace.

[ 2 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Name the substance which provides the carbon for this reaction.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

State the purpose of the combustion of carbon in the blast furnace.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3\mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}, in iron ore is converted to iron when it reacts with carbon monoxide, CO , in the blast furnace.

[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

State the name of the iron ore which consists mainly of iron(III) oxide.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Describe how carbon monoxide is formed in the blast furnace.

[ 1 ]

Question (iii)

(iii)

Write the symbol equation to show the reaction that occurs when iron(III) oxide is converted to iron in the blast furnace.

[ 2 ]

Question (c)

(c)

State the type of reaction shown by equation 2 .

[ 1 ]

Question (d)

(d)

State:
- the chemical name of SiO2\mathrm{SiO}_{2}
- the common name given to CaSiO3\mathrm{CaSiO}_{3} when it is formed in the blast furnace.

[ 2 ]

Question (e)

(e)

Aluminium cannot be extracted from its ore using a blast furnace.

[ 2 ]

Question (i)

(i)

State why aluminium is not extracted from its ore using a blast furnace.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Name the process used to extract aluminium from its ore.

[ 1 ]

9.6 Extraction of metals question 3

[Maximum number: 1]

The symbols of the elements of Period 3 of the Periodic Table are shown.

Table for Question 9.6 Extraction of metals question 3 — CAIE IGCSE Chemistry

Answer the following questions about these elements.
Each element may be used once, more than once or not at all.
Write the symbol of an element which:

is extracted from an ore called bauxite

All question bank results loaded