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Leaving Cert Engineering: Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys

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

HL Asked on 3 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2022.

OL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Engineering course. These come from the 2016–2025 papers, so read them as a guide.

Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys.

(a)Brass is an alloy of copper and which metal?
  1. Tin
  2. Zinc
  3. Lead
(b)In 18/8 stainless steel, what is the 18%?
  1. Carbon
  2. Nickel
  3. Chromium
(c)Why is grey cast iron used for lathe beds and machine bases?
  1. Graphite flakes damp vibration; it casts and machines well
  2. It has a very high tensile strength and toughness
  3. It is very ductile, so it bends rather than cracks
Show the answers

(a) Zinc

(b) Chromium

(c) Graphite flakes damp vibration; it casts and machines well

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys.

Higher Level

Asked on 3 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2022.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Q4
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Q3
2016Q1(j)

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

More Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys questions

Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys, 3 marks

White cast iron is?

  1. Soft and grey, with its carbon as graphite flakes
  2. Ductile and tough, with its carbon as graphite nodules
  3. Very hard and brittle, with its carbon as cementite
Show the answer

Very hard and brittle, with its carbon as cementite

White cast iron is cooled fast, so the carbon stays as hard iron carbide (cementite). The fracture looks white. Grey iron has graphite flakes; SG iron has nodules.

Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys, 3 marks

Spheroidal graphite (SG, ductile) cast iron is made by adding a little?

  1. Sulphur
  2. Magnesium
  3. Lead
Show the answer

Magnesium

Magnesium (or cerium) makes the graphite form round nodules instead of flakes. Nodules do not act as cracks, so SG iron is much tougher and more ductile than grey iron.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1(f)
2024Q1(f), Q1(i)
2023Q2
2022Q1(g)
2021Q1(f), Q2
2019Q2
2018Q1(g), Q2
2017Q1(b), Q2
2016Q1(b), Q2

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

More Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys questions

Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys, 2 marks

What is a ferrous metal?

  1. A metal that contains no iron
  2. A metal that is always pure
  3. A metal that contains iron
Show the answer

A metal that contains iron

Ferrous comes from the Latin ferrum, iron. Mild steel, cast iron and stainless steel are ferrous; most ferrous metals rust unless protected.

Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys, 2 marks

Brass is an alloy of copper and which other metal?

  1. Lead
  2. Zinc
  3. Tin
Show the answer

Zinc

Brass is copper plus zinc: golden colour, easy to machine and corrosion resistant, used for plumbing fittings and door handles. Copper plus tin is bronze.

Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys, 2 marks

Which of these is a non-ferrous metal?

  1. Aluminium
  2. Mild steel
  3. Cast iron
Show the answer

Aluminium

Non-ferrous metals contain no iron and do not rust: aluminium, copper, zinc, tin and lead. Mild steel and cast iron are both iron-based.

Other Engineering topics

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