Question

With reference to the list of metals below answer the following questions,
​Magnesium, potassium, calcium, copper, zinc, lead, silver.
​(i) Arrange the metals in order of decreasing reactivity with water
​(ii) (a)which metal reacts violently with cold water with a lot of heat produced.
(b)write a chemical equation for the above reaction
​(iii) which metals react very slowly with cold water but vigorously with steam.
(iv) which metal has no reaction with water or steam
​

Answer 1

Dear student,
i)The metals in decreasing order of reactivity with water are as follows: potassium>calcium>magnesium>zinc>lead>copper>silver.

ii)a)The metal which reacts violently with cold water and produces a lot of heat is potassium (K) as it lies at the top in the reactivity series where metals are arranged in order from highest to lowest in reactivity.

b) The reaction is as follows:
2K+2H₂O→ 2KOH+H₂
iii) The metal which reacts very slowly with cold water but vigorously with steam is Magnesium.
iv)The metal which has no reaction with water or steam is silver.
Regards