Reaction of metals with water

In the reactivity series metals at the top like potassium, sodium and calcium reacts readily with
cold water. For this reason they are stored under the surface of oil in order to prevent them from
reacting with moisture in the atmosphere. As a general rule when metals react with cold water
metal hydroxide is produced and if metal reacts with steam metal oxide is produced.
Magnesium, zinc and iron reacts with steam when heated to give metal oxide and hydrogen gas.
Metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series do not react with water or steam. They have no
ability to displace hydrogen from steam and water.

Metal Metal with water or steam

Potassium  Reacts with cold water

Sodium  Metal + water → metal hydroxide + hydrogen
Calcium  2K(s) + H2O(l) → 2KOH (aq) + H2 (g) Reaction is very vigorous
and liberated hydrogen catches fire.
 2Na(s) + H2O(l) → 2NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)
 Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g) Reaction is slow with
cold water and gives off bubbles of hydrogen gas slowly

Magnesium  React with steam

Aluminum  Metal + steam → metal oxide + hydrogen
Zinc  Mg(s) + H2O(g) → MgO (s) + H2 (g) Magnesium reacts very
Iron slowly with cold water but reacts vigorously with steam.
 Zn(s) + H2O(g) → ZnO (s) + H2 (g) reacts slowly with steam
 3Fe(s) + 4H2O(l) → Fe2O3 (s) + 4H2 (g) Iron do not react with
cold water but rusting occurs very slowly in the presence of
oxygen. Red hot iron reacts very slowly with steam.

Lead
Hydrogen  Not attacked by water or steam.
Copper
Mercury
Silver
Platinum

Reaction of Metals with Acids

Metal + acid → salt + hydrogen gas

Metal Metal with Reaction of Metals with Acids

acid

Potassium Violent 2K+ 2HCl → 2KCl + H2 (Reacts explosively)

Sodium reaction with
Calcium dilute acids Ca + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2 (reacts vigorously)

Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2 (reacts rapidly in warm acid).

Magnesium React with
Aluminum dilute acids 2Al + 6HCl → 2AlCl3 + H2 (Reacts slowly warming may be
Zinc with required).
Iron decreasing
Lead ease. Pb + 2HCl → PbCl2 + H2 (The insoluble lead chloride that is
Hydrogen produced forms a coating on the lead metal and this prevents
any further reaction).

Copper No reaction
Mercury
Silver
Platinum

Reduction of Metal Oxides

 At high temperature carbon behaves as a reducing agent and reduces metal oxides to
metals removing the oxygen from the metal oxide.
Metal oxide + carbon → metal + carbon dioxide
 Hydrogen is also a good reducing agent. It can reduce metal oxides to metals and water.
Metal oxide + hydrogen → metal + water
Trend of Reduction of metallic oxides in the Reactivity Series
1) Carbon cannot reduce oxides of the reactive metals like those of potassium, sodium,
calcium, magnesium and aluminum. The oxides of these metals (i.e. metals above zinc in
the reactivity series) can only be reduced to the metal by the electrolytic reduction
method. e.g. during electrolysis reduction of metals occur at cathode. ( Al3+ +3e- → Al)
 2) The Oxides below aluminum till Copper can be reduced with reducing agents like carbon
and hydrogen except zinc oxide which cannot be reduced by the action of hydrogen and
can be reduced with carbon.
3) As we move down the series reduction becomes easier because metals prefer to exist as
atoms as opposed to ions. Hence for metal oxides like mercury, silver and platinum no
reducing agent is necessary- just heating.

Metal Metal Oxide Reduction of metal Oxides

Potassium Electrolytic Reduction

Sodium Al3+ +3e- → Al
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminum

Zinc Reduced by heating with carbon 2ZnO + C → 2Zn + CO2

Iron or hydrogen
2Fe2O3 +3C → 4Fe + 3CO2
Lead
Copper
CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O

PbO + H2 → Pb + H2O

2HgO → 2Hg + O2
Mercury Reduced by heating alone
Silver
Platinum

Thermal Decomposition Reactions of Metals

Group Metal Carbonates Metal Hydroxide Metal Nitrate

Group 1 except Metal nitrite and

Lithium Do not decompose Do not decompose oxygen gas

Group II, Lithium Metal oxide and Metal oxide and Metal oxide, nitrogen
and Transition metals carbon dioxide water dioxide and water
Metal Hydroxide Carbonate Nitrate

Potassium Stable to heat Stable to heat Decompose to nitrite and oxygen

Sodium
2KNO3 → 2KNO2 + O2

Calcium Decompose to metal Decompose to metal Decompose to metal oxide,

Magnesium oxide and steam on oxide and carbon nitrogen dioxide and oxygen gas
Aluminum heating dioxide gas on on heating.
Zinc heating
Iron Ca(OH)2 → CaO + 2Mg(NO3)2 → 2MgO+ 4NO2 +
Lead H2O PbCO3 → PbO + CO2 O2
Copper

Mercury Unstable do not exist Unstable do not exist Decompose to metal, oxygen and
Silver nitrogen dioxide gas on heating
Platinum
2AgNO3 → 2Ag + 2NO2 + O2