Metals In Water 15/05/23

WHAT: To describe the reactions of metals in water.

Look at the
pictures and
think about
how metals
react in water.
Are they all
the same?
 Learning Outcomes

• To describe the reaction of metals with water.

• To write word equations for the reactions of metals in water

• To explain sacrificial protection.

 Metals In Water
Metals react in different ways in water, some more quickly that others.
Metals like potassium melt and float on water, so
much heat is released that the gas sets on fire.

Metals like iron are much slower

and rust over time. However, they
all have a common equation.

Key Point: Metal + Water  Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

Example:

Potassium Hydroxide
Potassium + Water  ___________ Hydroge
_____________ + _________________
n
 Equation Practice

Copy and complete the following equations.

Potassium_____________
Potassium + Water  ___________ Hydroxide Hydroge
+ _________________
n
Sodium Sodium Hydroxide
+ Water  ___________ Hydroge
_____________ + _________________
n
Lithium + Water  ___________ _____________ + _________________
Lithium Hydroxide Hydroge
n
Calcium + Water  ___________ _____________
Calcium Hydroxide + _________________
Hydroge
n
Write the reaction for Zinc reacting with water.

Zinc + Water  Zinc Hydroxide +

Hydrogen

Extension: Can you write the reaction for Zinc and Water as a
symbol equation?

Super Extension: How could you prove Hydrogen is released?

 Squeaky Pop!
Test for hydrogen gas: Place lit splint into the tube, if present
burns with a squeaky pop.

https://
www.youtube.co
m
/watch?v
=0VonvhSzhR4
 Let’s See
Watch as your teacher demonstrates the reaction of the alkali
metals and water. Listen carefully to what they say so you can
answer the questions below afterwards.

1. Where are the alkali metals found on the periodic table?

Group 1
2. Describe the reaction of Lithium with water.
A red flame and fizzing.
3. Describe the reaction of Sodium with water.
Turns into a ball, fizzes, moves around and the gas
ignites. more or less reactive than Lithium?
4. Is Potassium
More reactive.
Extension: How would you describe the trend in reactivity?
It gets more reactive down the group.

Demo or video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D

xzFf1ku6cE
 Reactivity Series
Complete the reactivity series in your
potassium books using the missing words in the box.
sodium
Hint: They get less reactive as you move
calcium from left to right on the Periodic Table
magnesium (take a look!)
increasing reactivity

aluminium
Copper Potassium Gold Magnesium
(carbon)
zinc
iron Ext: Write a pneumonic to help you
lead remember it!
(hydrogen)
copper Policeman Steve Called Maggie A Crazy
silver Zany Idiot, Lends His Cousin Six Gold
gold Plates
platinum
Carbon and Hydrogen are non metals
and are often included as a comparison
 Uses of the Reactivity Series

Think back to last lesson and discuss the following questions with your partner.

1. A more reactive metal is placed on the boat, this is called sacrificial

protection. How does this help prevent corrosion?
2. If the boat is made from iron, suggest a metal that could be used for
sacrificial protection and why.
3. Name a metal that you wouldn’t use for sacrificial protection and why?
4. Research the difference between galvanizing and sacrificial protection.
 Uses of the Reactivity Series

1. A more reactive metal is placed on the boat, this is called sacrificial

protection. How does this help prevent corrosion?
The more reactive metal reacts with the oxygen and water rather than
the hull of the boat.

2. If the boat is made out of iron, suggest a metal that could be used
for sacrificial protection and why.
Zinc is above iron in the reactivity series.
3. Name a metal that you wouldn’t use for sacrificial protection and why?
Gold is less reactive than iron so it would not react instead.
Potassium would react immediately with the water and it would be
4. Research the difference between galvanising and sacrificial
dangerous.
protection.
Galvanising is specifically coating iron with zinc, sacrificial protection is like
the picture above, pieces of the more reactive metal.
Plenary: Reactivity series play
your cards right. Higher or lower?
K Al Au Mg Na

Potassium Aluminium Gold Magnesium Sodium

Ag Li Zn Fe Ca

Silver Lithium Zinc Iron Calcium

 Kahoot

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 Worksheets
Sheets :

Complete worksheet 8GC2 Investigating Metals with Water

Textbook pages 108 - 109