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Junior Cycle · Junior Cycle Engineering

Junior Cycle Engineering: Metals & alloys

How often Metals & alloys comes up on the Engineering papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

CL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Metals & alloys, Common Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Metals & alloys.

(a)Which is the best definition of an alloy?
  1. A metal that has been heated and quenched
  2. A metal mixed with at least one other element
  3. A pure metal with nothing else added
(b)Which two metals are mixed to make bronze?
  1. Iron and chromium
  2. Copper and zinc
  3. Copper and tin
(c)Brass is an alloy of copper and which other metal?
  1. Zinc
  2. Lead
  3. Tin
Show the answers

(a) A metal mixed with at least one other element

(b) Copper and tin

(c) Zinc

Your turn: Common Level questions on Metals & alloys.

Common Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q1c
2025Q1c, Q2f, Q3c
2024Q1a
2023Q1b, Q2c, Q2e
2022Q1c, Q2c, Q2d

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Metals & alloys questions

Metals & alloys, 3 marks

Why is aluminium a good material for a stepladder?

  1. It is heavy and very cheap to cast
  2. It is magnetic and extremely hard
  3. It is light, strong and does not rust
Show the answer

It is light, strong and does not rust

Aluminium has a good strength-to-weight ratio, so the ladder is easy to carry, and its natural oxide layer stops it corroding outdoors. It is also non-magnetic.

Metals & alloys, 2 marks

Traditional soft solder is an alloy of which two metals?

  1. Iron and carbon
  2. Tin and lead
  3. Copper and zinc
Show the answer

Tin and lead

Soft solder melts at a low temperature, so it joins electronic parts without harming them. Lead is toxic, so most solder today is lead-free: mainly tin with a little copper or silver.

Other Engineering topics

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