An explosion, because the alkali metal react violently up when they touch water. When added to water the metal becomes a +1 ion, and the water forms OH- and H2 gas. The reaction with water is very exothermic, fast and violent. If a lump of lithium, sodium or potassium is placed in cold water, the metal floats; it may melt and move around the surface of the water with 'fizzing'. If universal indicator is added, it changes from green (pH 7) to purple (pH 13-14), showing an alkaline metal hydroxide was formed. The colourless gas hydrogen is also given off and pops with lit splint - but this is not the best of experiments to collect it from! The more reactive the metal, the more vigorous the reaction. Lithium and sodium do not normally cause a flame but the potassium reaction is exothermic enough to ignite the hydrogen. o 2H2(g) + O2(g) => 2H2O(l) o The hydrogen flame turns lilac due to hot potassium atoms in it. o Note: in flame tests hot lithium atoms give a crimson colour and sodium a yellow colour (more details). Rubidium, caesium and francium are very explosive with water. Down the group the reaction gets faster and more violent as the metal gets more reactive i.e. Li < Na < K < Rb < Cs < Fr. The reaction equation for sodium is in words and symbols... sodium + water ==> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) ==> 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g) and the equations are similar for any of the other Alkali Metals since they are in the same group of the Periodic Table, they behave chemically in the same way. Theoretically Francium is the most reactive and therefore the most explosive metal when in contact with water. See the Related Questions to the left for more information.
Also watch the linked videos of massive explosions due to sodium mixing with water! BOOM!!!
!!DBR!!
An alkali metal (such as Li, Na, K) reacts with cold water violently and exothermically to produce the alkali metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The heat produced from the reaction is sufficient to ignite the hydrogen gas, resulting in a flame around the metal.
Hydrogen
Potassium
Alkali metals reacts violently with water forming a hydroxide and hydrogen; alkali earth metals react with water but no so violent.Other metals doesn't generally react with water at room temperature.
there are some alkali metals. It can be sodium or potassium.
Lithium (Li) is the alkali metal that reacts most slowly with water. It is the first alkali metal and thus, the least reactive of the group. The lithium metal is seen to dart around the surface of the water with some whzzing and effervescence of hydrogen gas. The heat produced from the reaction may not be sufficient to ignite the hydrogen gas, resulting in no flame, compared to other metals like sodium and potassium where the reaction would be more violet and the metal would quickly catch fire.
Hydrogen
Potassium
Alkali metals reacts violently with water forming a hydroxide and hydrogen; alkali earth metals react with water but no so violent.Other metals doesn't generally react with water at room temperature.
there are some alkali metals. It can be sodium or potassium.
Lithium (Li) is the alkali metal that reacts most slowly with water. It is the first alkali metal and thus, the least reactive of the group. The lithium metal is seen to dart around the surface of the water with some whzzing and effervescence of hydrogen gas. The heat produced from the reaction may not be sufficient to ignite the hydrogen gas, resulting in no flame, compared to other metals like sodium and potassium where the reaction would be more violet and the metal would quickly catch fire.
I believe that you think to alkali metals (ex. sodium).
A corresponding metal salt and water are produced.
A salt and usually some other substance, most often water, is produced.
Sodium chloride is dissociated in water in Na+ and Cl-. Sodium is an alkali metal.
Potassium and dont try it at home it is dangerous
the alkali metals bases reacts with the acids to form salt and water example NaOH+HCl=H2O+NaCl
For example an alkali metal.