When lithium is placed in water it reacts to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 5 - 2016 - Paper 1
Question 5
When lithium is placed in water it reacts to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Describe what you would see during this reaction.
The following hazard symbol ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:When lithium is placed in water it reacts to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 5 - 2016 - Paper 1
Step 1
When lithium is placed in water it reacts to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Describe what you would see during this reaction.
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Answer
During the reaction, lithium will fizz or effervesce as it reacts with water. You might observe the formation of bubbles of hydrogen gas. Additionally, the lithium will become smaller as it dissolves, and may float or move on the water's surface.
Step 2
The following hazard symbol is attached to cylinders of hydrogen gas. Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer.
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Answer
This symbol shows that hydrogen is
☐ A corrosive
☑ B flammable
☐ C oxidising
☐ D toxic
Step 3
Explain, in terms of their structure, how metals conduct electricity.
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Answer
Metals conduct electricity due to the presence of free-moving electrons in their structure. The lattice arrangement of metal ions allows these delocalized electrons to move freely, enabling the flow of electric current.
Step 4
State a difference in the appearance of magnesium salts and iron salts.
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Magnesium salts are typically colorless or white crystalline substances, while iron salts often have distinctive colors such as green for iron(II) salts or brown for iron(III) salts.
Step 5
Describe and explain what you would see in each of these three reactions and what it would tell you about the relative reactivity of the halogens, bromine and iodine.
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Answer
In the reaction with potassium chloride and chlorine, bubbles of chlorine gas may be observed, indicating a reaction. In the case of potassium bromide and bromine, no distinct visual change may occur. Lastly, when potassium iodide reacts with iodine, a color change could occur, indicating iodine's reactivity. These observations suggest that chlorine is the most reactive halogen, followed by bromine, with iodine being the least reactive.