Question

Name a metal that reacts with steam, but the reaction is reversible.

Answer 1

Reactivity series: Reactivity series is the arrangement of metals in the decreasing order of their reactivity in a tabular form.

• In the reactivity series, a metal can displace the metals present below that element in the reactivity series.
• So, the metal present in the middle of the reactivity series can displace hydrogen from dilute acids and steam.

Identifying the metal which reacts with steam:

• Metals from magnesium (Mg) to iron (Fe) in the reactivity series can react with steam but not water.
• Iron (Fe) is a metal that can react with steam and the reaction is reversible.
• The balanced chemical equation can be represented as:

$\underset{\mathrm{Iron}}{2\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Steam}}{3{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Ferric}\mathrm{oxide}}{{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$