Describe how metals react with water. Give one example, with an equation, of a metal that reacts with cold water, one with hot water, and one with steam.

1. 1 · Open in one line. Metals react with water to form a metal hydroxide or oxide and hydrogen gas; how fast depends on how reactive the metal is.
2. 2 · Cold water. Sodium reacts violently: 2Na(s) + 2H₂O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H₂(g) + heat energy. Calcium reacts gently and floats: Ca + 2H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ + H₂.
3. 3 · Hot water. Magnesium reacts with hot water and floats: Mg + 2H₂O → Mg(OH)₂ + H₂.
4. 4 · Steam. Iron, aluminium and zinc react only with steam: 3Fe(s) + 4H₂O(g) → Fe₃O₄(s) + 4H₂(g).
5. 5 · Draw the steam set-up. Draw a boiling tube holding the metal and glass wool soaked in water, heated by a burner. A delivery tube leads to an upside-down gas jar over water, collecting hydrogen. Label: glass wool, metal, burner, delivery tube, hydrogen gas, water.
6. 6 · No reaction. Lead, copper, silver and gold do not react with water at all.
7. 7 · Link to real life. Sodium is stored under kerosene in laboratories, while copper and steel vessels can hold water safely.
8. 8 · Close in one line. So the reaction with water helps place metals in the reactivity series.

Scoring tip: Group the metals into cold water, hot water, steam and no reaction. Write one balanced equation for each group.