Metals & Materials Quiz

Question 1

What is the reactivity series of metals?

Accepted Answer

A list of metals ranked by their reactivity with water, acids, and oxygen — from most to least reactive

Answer

A list of metals ranked by their electrical conductivity

Answer

A list of metals in alphabetical order

Answer

A list of metals ranked by their density

Question 2

Which metal is the most reactive?

Accepted Answer

Potassium

Answer

Gold

Answer

Iron

Answer

Aluminium

Question 3

What is an alloy?

Accepted Answer

A mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal

Answer

A pure metal with high conductivity

Answer

A metal oxide formed by corrosion

Answer

A metal extracted directly from ore

Question 4

Why are alloys generally harder than pure metals?

Accepted Answer

Because different-sized atoms disrupt the regular lattice, making it harder for layers to slide over each other

Answer

Because alloys have more electrons

Answer

Because alloys have lower melting points

Answer

Because alloys are less dense than pure metals

Question 5

What is corrosion?

Accepted Answer

The gradual deterioration of a metal by chemical reaction with its environment (especially with oxygen and water)

Answer

The process of melting metals at high temperature

Answer

The extraction of metals from their ores

Answer

The polishing of metal surfaces

Question 6

What conditions are needed for iron to rust?

Accepted Answer

Both water and oxygen

Answer

Oxygen only

Answer

Water only

Answer

Carbon dioxide and water

Question 7

What is galvanising?

Accepted Answer

Coating iron or steel with a layer of zinc to protect against corrosion

Answer

Coating iron or steel with copper to prevent corrosion

Answer

Treating metal with acid

Answer

Passing electricity through a metal to harden it

Question 8

Why does aluminium not appear to corrode despite being a reactive metal?

Accepted Answer

Aluminium forms a thin, protective oxide layer that prevents further reaction with oxygen

Answer

Aluminium is actually unreactive

Answer

Aluminium only reacts at very high temperatures

Answer

Aluminium is stored in a special coating from manufacture

Question 9

What are the typical physical properties of metals?

Accepted Answer

Shiny, malleable, ductile, good conductors of heat and electricity, high melting point

Answer

Brittle, dull, poor conductors, low melting point

Answer

Soft, transparent, non-conductive, low density

Answer

Hard, brittle, good conductors of electricity only

Question 10

What is stainless steel and what makes it corrosion-resistant?

Accepted Answer

An alloy of iron with at least 10.5% chromium; the chromium forms a protective oxide layer

Answer

Steel coated with zinc; zinc prevents oxidation

Answer

Pure iron with carbon removed; it does not rust

Answer

Steel coated with nickel; nickel is unreactive

Question 11

What is smelting?

Accepted Answer

Extracting metals from their ores by heating with a reducing agent (such as carbon) at high temperatures

Answer

The process of polishing metals to a high shine

Answer

Testing the purity of a metal

Answer

The process of forming alloys

Question 12

What is a semiconductor?

Accepted Answer

A material with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator, which can be controlled

Answer

A metal that conducts electricity only at low temperatures

Answer

A half-metal found between metals and non-metals on the periodic table

Answer

A material that only conducts electricity under pressure

Question 13

What are shape memory alloys?

Accepted Answer

Alloys that return to a pre-programmed shape when heated after being deformed

Answer

Alloys that remember their chemical composition

Answer

Alloys that change colour when deformed

Answer

Alloys that become stronger when cooled

Question 14

What is electrolysis used for in metallurgy?

Accepted Answer

Extracting highly reactive metals (like aluminium and sodium) that cannot be reduced by carbon

Answer

Smelting iron from iron ore

Answer

Galvanising steel

Answer

Testing the purity of gold

Question 15

What are ceramics and what are their key properties?

Accepted Answer

Non-metallic inorganic solids that are hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and electrical insulators

Answer

Metal alloys used in construction

Answer

Synthetic polymers used in clothing

Answer

Magnetic materials used in electronics

Question 16

What is the displacement reaction between zinc and copper sulfate solution?

Accepted Answer

Zinc displaces copper: Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu, because zinc is more reactive than copper

Answer

No reaction occurs because zinc is less reactive than copper

Answer

Copper displaces zinc: Cu + ZnSO₄ → CuSO₄ + Zn

Answer

Both metals dissolve in solution

Question 17

What is a composite material?

Accepted Answer

A material made of two or more components with different properties, combining the best of each

Answer

A material made of a single element with specific properties

Answer

A type of ceramic with metallic properties

Answer

Any material that contains carbon

Question 18

Gold is described as a 'noble metal'. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

It is highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, and does not react with most acids

Answer

It is the most expensive metal

Answer

It has the highest melting point of all metals

Answer

It is only found in royal jewellery

Question 19

What property makes metals good electrical conductors?

Accepted Answer

The presence of delocalised (free) electrons that can move through the metallic lattice

Answer

Their high density

Answer

Their crystalline structure

Answer

Their high melting points

Question 20

What is titanium valued for in aerospace and medical applications?

Accepted Answer

Its combination of low density, very high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility

Answer

Its extremely low cost compared to steel

Answer

Its ability to conduct electricity better than copper

Answer

Its higher melting point than all other metals