Identify the metals which do not react either with cold water or hot water from the list given under.

I. Mg

II. Al

III. K

IV. Zn

V. Fe

VI. Na

Key Points

• Metals like Aluminium (Al), Zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe) do not react with cold or hot water directly.
• These metals only react with steam to form their respective oxides and release hydrogen gas.
• The reactivity of metals determines their ability to react with water. Highly reactive metals react vigorously, while moderately reactive metals like Al, Zn, and Fe require higher energy (steam).
• Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) are highly reactive and react even with cold water, releasing hydrogen gas explosively.

Important Points

• The reactivity of metals is based on their position in the activity series. Metals at the top of the series (like K and Na) are more reactive than those lower in the series (like Al, Zn, and Fe).
• Magnesium (Mg), although reactive, reacts slowly with cold water and faster with hot water to form magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.