Question

Potassium should not be used for the preparation of hydrogen. Give reason.

Answer 1

• Potassium reacts violently with acid therefore it is not used in the preparation of hydrogen.
• The chemical reaction is highly exothermic in nature.
• The burning of hydrogen gas can cause a little explosion.

$\underset{\mathrm{Potassium}}{2\mathrm{K}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{hydroxide}}{2\mathrm{KOH}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{gas}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\mathrm{Energy}$

This reaction violently occurs therefore potassium is not used in the preparation of hydrogen.