Does alkali metals react with water?

Answer 1

This is the generic reaction where "M" could represent any of the alkali metals.

2M + 2H2O --> 2MOH + H2

This really does not help anybody... at all. I asked for the metal not the formula

Answer 2

Yes, alkali metals such as lithium, sodium, and potassium react vigorously with water to produce hydrogen gas and an alkaline solution. The reaction becomes more vigorous as you go down the group from lithium to potassium.

Answer 3

Well, the alkali metals reacting with water, which I took at school, are these:

Lithium (Li) ---> Slow bubbling (hydrogen gas produced)

Sodium (Na) ---> Faster bubbling (hydrogen gas produced)

Potassium (K) ---> Very fast bubbling, violent (hydrogen gas ignites)

Rubidium (Rb) ---> Violent (metal ignites)

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Answer 4

Lithium, being the least reactive, just fizzes as it gives off hydrogen
Sodium, also fizzes and it melts into a small ball shape
Potassium, gives off hydrogen as it burns with a lilac flame

Answer 5

The alkali metal essentially replaces one of the hydrogen atoms in a water molecule, producing hydrogen gas and the corresponding metal hydroxide.

Depending on the specific metal the reaction can range from vigorous fizzing as with lithium to a violent explosion as with cesium.

Often the heat produced by the reaction is enough to ignite the hydrogen as it is emitted.

Answer 6

Should the alkali be strong, the alkali will become weak (pH number decreases).

Answer 7

Where M denotes any group 1 metal:

2M (s) + 2H2O = 2MOH (aq) + H2 (g)

Answer 8

it simply becomes ionized into a metallic cation and hydroxyl ion.

Answer 9

yes an alkali metal reacts in water as a transition metal does not

Answer 10

yes