Which do not react with water at all?
Metals such as lead, copper, silver and gold do not react with water at all.
Generally, non metals (P, S, C) and few least reactive metals (Au, Ag) do not react with water.
Copper and Gold do not react with water, because they lie below hydrogen in the reactivity series. As a result, they cannot replace hydrogen in a water molecule. Q.
The sodium readily interacts with water. It reacts vigorously with water to produce a solution of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The nature of the reaction is very exothermic. The solution of sodium hydroxide results from the simple evolution of hydrogen gas, which occurs naturally as a vapor.
Copper reacts vigorously with water and forms hydrogen gas. Copper reacts vigorously with water and forms hydrogen gas.
Potassium metal reacts with water to give potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
The only elements that do react with water are those that are easily ionised (like the alkali & alkaline earth metals) or have strong oxidising properties (fluorine, chlorine etc). Both sulphur & phosphorus have quite high ionisation energies and aren't strong oxidisers, so won't react.
In the following demonstration, a chunk of calcium metal is dropped into a beaker of distilled water. After a second or so, the calcium metal begins to bubble vigorously as it reacts with the water, producing hydrogen gas, and a cloudy white precipitate of calcium hydroxide.
Lead can enter drinking water when a chemical reaction occurs in plumbing materials that contain lead. This is known as corrosion – dissolving or wearing away of metal from the pipes and fixtures. This reaction is more severe when water has high acidity or low mineral content.
It is a metal and reacts with water vapour. Thus, iron metal reacting with water vapour present in the atmosphere leads to the formation of iron(III) oxide and also the liberation of hydrogen gas takes place. It is the chemical reaction that takes place in a very long time i.e.., days.
Does Zn react with water?
Zinc does not react directly with water. It depends on the temperature of both, the zinc metal and the water. Under normal conditions, zinc does not react with water. When zinc reacts with steam it produces zinc oxide and releases hydrogen gas.
The reaction is given below: SO3 + H2SO4 → H2S2O.

Water molecules pull the sodium and chloride ions apart, breaking the ionic bond that held them together. After the salt compounds are pulled apart, the sodium and chloride atoms are surrounded by water molecules, as this diagram shows. Once this happens, the salt is dissolved, resulting in a homogeneous solution.
Under normal conditions nickel does not react with water. Elementary nickel is water insoluble at T=20oC pressure = 1 bar. However, nickel compounds may be water soluble. Nickel chloride is most water soluble; 553 g/L at 20oC, to 880 g/L at 99.9oC.
Since gold and silver are the least reactive metals, they do not react with water.
In the vicinity of room temperature, the reaction between aluminum metal and water to form aluminum hydroxide and hydrogen is the following: 2Al + 6H2O = 2Al(OH)3 + 3H2.
Silver does not react with pure water. Is is stable in both water and air. Moreover, it is acid and base resistant, but it corrodes when it comes in contact with sulphur compounds. Under normal conditions silver is water insoluble.
Because phosphorus does not react with water, scientists often store it underwater to prevent reactions with air. But boiling phosphorus in water produces phosphine and phosphorous acid.
Magnesium can also form magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas when it reacts with water vapour. When magnesium reacts with hot water, magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen are formed.
Sodium reacts violently with water because it is much more active than hydrogen. Although water is covalent, not ionic, it is helpful sometimes to consider water to be [H+][OH-], since after all hydrogen has a slight excess of positive charge.
Does chlorine react with water?
Chlorine will react in water to form hypochlorous acid, which can then dissociate into hydrogen and hypochlorite ions, according to Eqn (1). This reaction is very important, as the disinfecting power of HOCl, hypochlorous acid, is about 40–80 times that of OCl−, hypochlorite.
The allotropic form of white phosphorus is less stable and therefore highly reactive. Hence, it is kept in water to avoid Oxidation by the Oxygen present in the Air. Phosphorus is insoluble in water.
Chemical Name | Reaction with Water |
---|---|
Boron tribromide | Violent or explosive reaction when water added |
Butyl lithium | Ignites on contact with water |
Calcium carbide | Gives off explosive acetylene gas |
Calcium hydride | Hydrogen gas liberated |
Sodium reacts with cold water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Potassium is a highly reactive metal which reacts vigorously with cold water to form Potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas with the evolution of heat.
Lithium reacts intensely with water, forming lithium hydroxide and highly flammable hydrogen. The colourless solution is highly alkalic. The exothermal reactions lasts longer than the reaction of sodium and water, which is directly below lithium in the periodic chart.
Hydrogen does not react with water. It does, however, dissolve to the extent of about 0.00160 g kg-1 at 20°C (297 K) and 1 atmosphere pressure.
Mercury does not react with water under normal conditions.
Gold is stable to even strong acids, but a special combination of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid can dissolve it. This combination is known as "aqua regia", which is latin for "royal water," because of it's special ability to dissolve gold.
Calcium does not react with cold water.
Can sodium react with hot water?
Sodium do not reacts with water.
When potassium is added to water, the metal melts and floats. It moves around very quickly on the surface of the water. The hydrogen ignites instantly. The metal is also set on fire, with sparks and a lilac flame.
Metals like aluminium, iron and zinc do not react either with cold or hot water.
Group 2 elements react readily with cold water to form a metal hydroxide and hydrogen. The reaction between a Group 2 element and water is a redox as Group 2 elements are oxidised from an oxidation state of 0 to +2.
Zinc is also present in most drinking water. Drinking water or other beverages may contain high levels of zinc if they are stored in metal containers or flow through pipes that have been coated with zinc to resist rust.
Beryllium (Be) is the only alkaline earth metal that does not react with water.
Copper (Cu) is placed below hydrogen because of its low reactivity. Hence, it does not react with hot water or steam.
Potassium metal reacts with water to give potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
In the following demonstration, a chunk of calcium metal is dropped into a beaker of distilled water. After a second or so, the calcium metal begins to bubble vigorously as it reacts with the water, producing hydrogen gas, and a cloudy white precipitate of calcium hydroxide.
It is a metal and reacts with water vapour. Thus, iron metal reacting with water vapour present in the atmosphere leads to the formation of iron(III) oxide and also the liberation of hydrogen gas takes place. It is the chemical reaction that takes place in a very long time i.e.., days.
Does carbon react with water?
Carbon, either as graphite or diamond does not react with water under normal conditions.
The only elements that do react with water are those that are easily ionised (like the alkali & alkaline earth metals) or have strong oxidising properties (fluorine, chlorine etc). Both sulphur & phosphorus have quite high ionisation energies and aren't strong oxidisers, so won't react.
Hydrogen does not react with water. It does, however, dissolve to the extent of about 0.00160 g kg-1 at 20°C (297 K) and 1 atmosphere pressure.
Zinc does not react with water, because it, too, forms a protective layer of insoluble zinc hydroxide, Zn(OH)2 .
The elements copper and silver are less active than hydrogen. They do not react with water at all.
The reaction is given below: SO3 + H2SO4 → H2S2O.
Because phosphorus does not react with water, scientists often store it underwater to prevent reactions with air. But boiling phosphorus in water produces phosphine and phosphorous acid.
Magnesium can also form magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas when it reacts with water vapour. When magnesium reacts with hot water, magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen are formed.
Lead can enter drinking water when a chemical reaction occurs in plumbing materials that contain lead. This is known as corrosion – dissolving or wearing away of metal from the pipes and fixtures. This reaction is more severe when water has high acidity or low mineral content.
Silver does not react with pure water. Is is stable in both water and air. Moreover, it is acid and base resistant, but it corrodes when it comes in contact with sulphur compounds. Under normal conditions silver is water insoluble.
Does aluminium react with water?
In the vicinity of room temperature, the reaction between aluminum metal and water to form aluminum hydroxide and hydrogen is the following: 2Al + 6H2O = 2Al(OH)3 + 3H2.