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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry 1SC0
Key Concepts in Chemistry
Topic overviewFormulae, word equations and balanced equationsHazard symbols and assessing riskThe changing model of the atomProtons, neutrons and electronsThe nucleus, mass number and atomic massElements and isotopesCalculating particle numbers and relative atomic massMendeleev's periodic tableHow the modern periodic table is arrangedElectronic configuration and the periodic tableHow ionic bonds formIons in ionic compoundsFormulae of ionic compoundsNaming compounds and the ionic latticeCovalent bonds and moleculesDot and cross diagrams for simple moleculesClassifying substances and the properties of ionic compoundsProperties of simple molecular substances, and forms of carbonGraphite and diamondFullerenes and graphenePolymers and models of bondingThe properties of metalsRelative formula mass and percentage compositionEmpirical and molecular formulaeConservation of mass in closed and open systemsReacting masses from balanced equationsConcentration in grams per cubic decimetre
States of Matter and Mixtures
Topic overviewThe three states of matter and changes of stateEnergy changes during changes of state, and predicting statePure substances and melting point dataChoosing a separation techniqueSeparating a mixture in practicePaper chromatography and interpreting a chromatogramInvestigating inks by distillation and chromatographyMaking water potable
Chemical Changes
Topic overviewAcids, alkalis and the pH scaleIndicators: litmus, methyl orange and phenolphthaleinInvestigating pH change when neutralising an acidBases and alkalisReactions of acids, and testing for hydrogen and carbon dioxideNeutralisation and its ionic equationPreparing soluble salts from insoluble and soluble reactantsPreparing pure, dry copper sulfate crystalsCarrying out an acid-alkali titrationSolubility rulesPredicting precipitates and preparing an insoluble saltElectrolytes and what electrolysis isMovement of ions and predicting the products of molten electrolysisElectrolysis with inert electrodesElectrolysis of copper sulfate solutionInvestigating the electrolysis of copper sulfate
Extracting Metals and Equilibria
Groups in the Periodic Table
Topic overviewThe groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metalsReactions of the alkali metals with waterThe pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happensPhysical properties of the halogensThe test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metalsHydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivityDisplacement reactions of the halogensGroup 0: the noble gases
Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes
Fuels and Earth Science
Topic overviewHydrocarbons and crude oilFractional distillation and the fractionsProperties of the fractions and homologous seriesComplete and incomplete combustionCarbon monoxide and sootPollutants and acid rainHydrogen and fossil fuels comparedCracking and why it is necessaryThe Earth's early atmosphereHow the oceans formed and how oxygen appearedThe test for oxygen and the greenhouse gasesToday's atmosphere and evidence for climate change
Extracting Metals and Equilibria
- 8 subtopics
- 24 things to know
- Paper 3
What Extracting Metals and Equilibria covers
Extracting Metals and Equilibria is examined in Paper 3, Chemistry 1. It covers investigating the reactivity of metals, the reactivity series, ores, oxidation and reduction, choosing a method to extract a metal, corrosion resistance and recycling metals, life cycle assessment, reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium and the Haber process and its conditions.
Where it is assessed
Paper 3
Chemistry 1: Chemistry in Combined Science: 1 hour 10 minutes, 60 marks, 16.67% of the qualification.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 8 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Investigating the reactivity of metalsJudging reactivity from reactions with cold water and dilute acid, the products formed, magnesium in copper(II) sulfate, and ordering magnesium, zinc and copper by displacement.Open →
- The reactivity seriesThe series from potassium to gold with carbon and hydrogen placed in it, which metals react with cold water or dilute acid, why copper gives no hydrogen, and aluminium's oxide layer.Open →
- Ores, oxidation and reductionWhat an ore is and why most metals are found as compounds while gold is found uncombined, oxidation and reduction as the gain and loss of oxygen, identifying what is oxidised and reduced, and why extracting a metal from its oxide is reduction, usually by carbon.Open →
- Choosing a method to extract a metalHow position relative to carbon decides between heating with carbon and electrolysis, why aluminium needs electrolysis and why it costs more, the iron extraction equation, and why gold is found uncombined.Open →
- Corrosion resistance and recycling metalsWhat corrosion is and how it follows the reactivity series, why gold, sodium and aluminium behave as they do, why rust keeps spreading, and the economic and environmental case for recycling.Open →
- Life cycle assessmentWhat a life-cycle assessment is, its four stages and the impacts counted at each, comparing two bags by energy, why the results involve judgement and can be selectively reported, and ethical issues and the questions science cannot answer.Open →
- Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibriumReversible reactions and the ⇌ symbol, hydrated copper(II) sulfate and ammonium chloride as examples, dynamic equilibrium in a closed system, why the amounts stay constant but are not equal, and what the position of an equilibrium means.Open →
- The Haber process and its conditionsThe word and symbol equations for ammonia, where the nitrogen and hydrogen come from, the 450 °C, 200 atmospheres and iron catalyst, and why the reaction never goes to completion.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Explain why oxidation and reduction always occur together, and why obtaining a metal from its ore counts as reduction.
Process
What environmental impacts are considered at the raw materials, manufacturing and use stages of a life-cycle assessment?
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How can the reaction of a metal with cold water be used to judge how reactive that metal is?
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List the reactivity series from potassium down to gold, including the two non-metals used as reference points.
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Which metals can be extracted by heating their oxides with carbon?
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What is meant by the corrosion of a metal?
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Give an example of a reversible reaction in which a colour change can be seen.
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Write the word equation for the formation of ammonia from its elements.
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What two products are formed when a reactive metal such as sodium reacts with cold water?
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Which two non-metals are placed in the reactivity series of metals, and where does each one sit?
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Why can aluminium not be extracted by heating its oxide with carbon?
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How is a metal’s resistance to oxidation related to its position in the reactivity series?
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Give two environmental impacts considered when obtaining the raw materials for a product.
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Name two reaction conditions that can be changed in order to alter the direction of a reversible reaction.
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Write the balanced symbol equation for the formation of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen.
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What is seen when magnesium is added to cold water, and what does this show about its reactivity?
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Which metals of the reactivity series react with cold water?
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What is an ore?
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Why is extracting a metal by electrolysis far more expensive than heating its ore with carbon?
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Why does a gold ring keep its shine for centuries?
Process
What environmental impacts are considered at the manufacturing stage of a life-cycle assessment?
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What is a closed system?
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In what ratio do nitrogen and hydrogen molecules combine when ammonia is formed?
Take Extracting Metals and Equilibria further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Oxidation vs Reduction
Oxidation: gain of oxygen, or loss of electrons, by a substance. Reduction: loss of oxygen, or gain of electrons, by a substance.
Reversible reaction vs Dynamic equilibrium
Reversible reaction: change in which the products can turn back into the reactants. Dynamic equilibrium: state where forward and backward changes run at equal rates in a closed system.
Heating with carbon vs Electrolysis
Heating with carbon: cheap way of removing oxygen from the oxides of metals such as iron and zinc. Electrolysis: expensive method using electricity to obtain reactive metals such as aluminium from molten compounds.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
How can the reaction of a metal with cold water be used to judge how reactive that metal is?
Model answer
The more vigorously the metal fizzes and gives off hydrogen with cold water, the more reactive it is.
- 2
What two products are formed when a reactive metal such as sodium reacts with cold water?
Model answer
A metal hydroxide solution and hydrogen gas are formed.
- 3
What is seen when magnesium is added to cold water, and what does this show about its reactivity?
Model answer
Only a few bubbles appear very slowly, showing magnesium is less reactive than sodium or calcium.
- 4
What two products are formed when a metal reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid?
Model answer
A salt, which is a metal chloride, and hydrogen gas are formed.
- 5
How does the rate of bubbling when different metals are added to the same dilute acid show their order of reactivity?
Model answer
The metal that bubbles fastest is the most reactive, and a metal that gives no bubbles at all is the least reactive.
- 6
What is observed when a strip of magnesium is placed in copper(II) sulfate solution?
Model answer
The blue colour of the solution fades and a pink-brown coating of copper forms on the magnesium.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Extracting Metals and Equilibria revision questions
- What does Extracting Metals and Equilibria cover in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry?
- 8 subtopics: investigating the reactivity of metals, the reactivity series, ores, oxidation and reduction, choosing a method to extract a metal, corrosion resistance and recycling metals, life cycle assessment, reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium and the haber process and its conditions. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Extracting Metals and Equilibria organised?
- By the Edexcel 1SC0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Extracting Metals and Equilibria, on a schedule.
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