alleryStart learning →When an alkali metal reacts with water, what products are formed?
AHydrogen gas and the metal hydroxide
BThe metal oxide and oxygen gas
CThe metal chloride and hydrogen gas
DWater and the metal peroxide
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Hydrogen gas and the metal hydroxide
1. Alkali metals are strong reducing agents that readily give up their single valence electron.
2. The text states: "The alkali metals all react vigorously with water to form hydrogen gas and a basic solution of the metal hydroxide."
3. For example, lithium reacts with water as 2Li(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2LiOH(aq) + H2(g), producing lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
4. There is no chlorine present to form a chloride, and no oxygen gas or peroxide forms in this particular reaction.
5. So the products of an alkali metal reacting with water are hydrogen gas and the metal hydroxide.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry Ch 18 "Representative Metals, Metalloids, and Nonmetals", p.966 §18.1 Periodicity_
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