Sodium and zinc are each reacted with water and steam. Predict the observations that would be made about these reactions. (4 marks)
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Sodium \((\ce{Na}) \):
→ Sodium is an alkali metal that will react vigorously with both water and steam to produce a hydroxide and hydrogen gas according to the chemical equation
\(\ce{2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) \rightarrow 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)} \)
→ The reaction will show no colour change in the aqueous solution as \(\ce{Na(aq)}\) is colourless like water.
Zinc \((\ce{Zn})\):
→ Zinc is less reactive and will not react with water but will form an oxide with steam (due to the higher energy present) according to the equation
\(\ce{Zn(s) + H2O(steam) \rightarrow ZnO(aq) + H2(g)} \)
→ While zinc metal is a silver colour, zinc oxide is white.
Sodium \((\ce{Na}) \):
→ Sodium is an alkali metal that will react vigorously with both water and steam to produce a hydroxide and hydrogen gas according to the chemical equation
\(\ce{2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) \rightarrow 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)} \)
→ The reaction will show no colour change in the aqueous solution as \(\ce{Na(aq)}\) is colourless like water.
Zinc \((\ce{Zn})\):
→ Zinc is less reactive and will not react with water but will form an oxide with steam (due to the higher energy present) according to the equation
\(\ce{Zn(s) + H2O(steam) \rightarrow ZnO(aq) + H2(g)} \)
→ While zinc metal is a silver colour, zinc oxide is white.