BRAINCAKEReactions of Sodium and Magnesium with Water
Sodium reacts vigorously with cold water. It floats, melts into a ball (the reaction is exothermic and sodium has a low melting point), fizzes as hydrogen is given off and moves around on the surface until it disappears. The solution left is strongly alkaline (pH about 12 to 14).
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
Magnesium reacts only very slowly with cold water, giving a few bubbles of hydrogen over a long time. Magnesium hydroxide is only slightly soluble, so the solution is only weakly alkaline (pH about 9 to 10).
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
More in Period 3 Elements and Oxides
- Period 3 Elements
- Reactions of Period 3 Elements with Oxygen
- Period 3 Oxides
- Melting Points of Period 3 Oxides
- Reactions of Period 3 Oxides with Water
- pH of Period 3 Oxide Solutions
- Acid-Base Character of Period 3 Oxides
- Amphoteric Aluminium Oxide
All 10 lessons in Period 3 Elements and Oxides · All AQA A-level Chemistry topics