Metals Reacting with Water & Acids (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry: Double Science)

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Metals reacting with water & acids

  • The chemistry of the metals is studied by analysing their reactions with water and acids
  • Based on these reactions a reactivity series of metals can be produced
  • The series can be used to place a group of metals in order of reactivity based on the observations of their reactions with water and acids

Reactions of metal with cold water summary table

Metal Reaction with water
Most reactive  
Potassium Reacts violently
Sodium Reacts quickly
Lithium Reacts less strongly
Calcium Reacts less strongly
Magnesium  
Zinc  
Iron Slow rusting
Copper  
Least reactive  

Reaction with water

  • The reactions of potassium and sodium have already been seen previously in the alkali metals, but the reaction with calcium and water is given here for reference:

Ca (s) + 2H2O (l) ⟶ Ca(OH)2 (aq)  + H2(g)

calcium + water ⟶ calcium hydroxide + hydrogen

  • The reactions with magnesium, iron and zinc and cold water are very slow

Reaction with dilute sulfuric or hydrochloric acids

  • Only metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series will react with dilute acids
  • The more reactive the metal then the more vigorous the reaction will be
  • Metals that are placed high on the reactivity series such as potassium and sodium are very dangerous and react explosively with acids
  • When acids react with metals they form a salt and hydrogen gas:
  • The general equation is:

metal + acid ⟶ salt + hydrogen

  • Some examples of metal-acid reactions and their equations are given below:

Table of acid-metal reactions

Metal Sulfuric acid Hydrochloric acid
 Magnesium   Mg (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) + H2 (g)  Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
 Zinc Zn (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + H2 (g)   Zn (s) + 2HCl (aq) → ZnCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
 Iron Fe (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → FeSO4 (aq) + H2 (g)  Fe (s) + 2HCl (aq) → FeCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

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Stewart

Author: Stewart

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Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Exam Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.