WAEC - Chemistry (2020 - No. 39)
Which of the following metals does not react with water to produce hydrogen?
Copper
Potassium
Sodium
Zinc
Paliwanag
Most alkali metals and alkaline earth metals react with water to produce hydrogen. The alkali metals comprise Group 1 of the periodic table, and include lithium, sodium, potassium, etc.
- Zinc is not much reactive with cold or room temperature water but reacts with steam to form zinc oxide and liberate hydrogen gas.
- Copper lies below hydrogen in the activity series of metals, therefore it can not displace hydrogen from water