Chapter EH, Problem 10R

Solution

Interpretation: To determine the reactivity of lithium metal with water.

Concept Introduction: Lithium is an alkali metal and alkali metals are highly reactive. However, reactivity also depends on the activation energy.

Lithium will slowly react with water because it has lower activation energy, and a lower rate of reaction as well.

Lithium combines slowly with water since it has greater activation energy and thus has a lower rate of reaction. This results in a colorless solution of lithium hydroxide and thus the release of hydrogen gas, unlike all other alkali metals which easily produce hydroxides with the emission of hydrogen gas.

When lithium reacts with water then it will form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

  ${\text{Li+H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\to {\text{Li(OH)}}_{\text{2}}{\text{+H}}_{\text{2}}$