Metal + Water and Steam Reactions

Question 1

when metal reacts with water what does it form?

Answer 1

metal hydroxides and hydrogen

Question 2

metal + water reaction word equation?

Answer 2

metal + water -> metal hydroxide + hydrogen

Question 3

two observations in metal + water reaction?

Answer 3

• effervescence - due to the hydrogen gas produced
• solid disappears - due to being used up in the reaction
• any metals less reactive than magnesium react so slowly with cold water that you can’t tell anything is happening

Question 4

what are the metals in group 1 of the periodic table called?

Answer 4

alkali metals

Question 5

how do alkali metals react with water and what do they form?

Answer 5

they react violently and form metal hydroxides and hydrogen

Question 6

word equation for alkali metals reaction with water?

Answer 6

metal + water -> metal hydroxide + hydrogen

Question 7

reactions of Li, Na and K with water observations?

Answer 7

• solid floats - it is less dense than water
• effervescence - hydrogen gas produced
• solid moves - the effervescence propels it around the surface of the water
• solid disappears - it is used up in the reaction

Question 8

what colour does universal indicator go when added to the water after a reaction with an alkali metal?

Answer 8

dark blue

Question 9

why are metal hydroxides alkalis?

Answer 9

they donate OH-

Question 10

extra observations of Na with water?

Answer 10

• Na melts

Question 11

extra observations of K with water?

Answer 11

• lilac flame
• K melts

Question 12

do group 1 metals get more reactive as you go up or down the group?

Answer 12

down

Question 13

what happens to a group 1 metals outer shell when it reacts?

Answer 13

it loses it to get a full outer shell

Question 14

why does losing an outer shell electron get easier as you move down the group?

Answer 14

• the atoms get bigger and have more shells
• the outer electron is further from the nucleus
• the attraction between the nucleus and the outer-electron is weaker
• so less energy is needed to break the attraction

Question 15

metal + steam word equation?

Answer 15

metal + steam -> metal oxide + hydrogen

Question 16

metal + steam reaction experiment?

Answer 16

• conducted in a horizontal tube
• some wet wool is heated to generate steam for the metal to react with
• the hydrogen gas is produced and ignited to safely destroy it

Question 17

why do metals react with cold water and hot steam to produce different molecules?

Answer 17

steams has more energy, so both bonds in the water molecule can break