The reactions of metals and water

• Water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen
• When metals react with water they remove the oxygen from the water
• We say the metals displace the hydrogen from the water
• A metal oxide is formed
• Freeing up the oxygen
• The following word equation summarizes the nature of these reactions
• \text{metal + water}\rightarrow\text{metal oxide+hydrogen}
• An example of such an equation is:
• \text{magnesium + water}\rightarrow\text{magnesium oxide+hydrogen}
• The byproduct of these reactions is hydrogen gas
• It makes a popping sound when it comes in contact with a lighted splint
• Calcium reacts much more easily with water
• Magnesium is less reactive when compared to calcium
• To speed up the reaction of water and magnesium steam is used instead of water

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