Question

What is produced when potassium reacts with water? $2\mathrm{K}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to ?$

Answer 1

Step 1: Reaction of metal with water

• The metal reacts with water to form its corresponding metal hydroxide along with hydrogen gas $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$.
• The general chemical reaction is as follows,

$\mathrm{Metal}+\mathrm{water}\to \mathrm{Metal}\mathrm{hydroxide}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$

• The gas produced burns with a pop sound, confirming the gas is to be hydrogen gas.

Step 2: Chemical reaction between potassium and water:

• When potassium $\left(\mathrm{K}\right)$ reacts with water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$, potassium hydroxide $\left(\mathrm{KOH}\right)$ and hydrogen gas are formed as the product.
• The chemical reaction is as follows,

$2\mathrm{K}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to 2\mathrm{KOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$