Nigel Baldwin | Lithium in water reaction MVI 1334 @nigelbaldwin3184 | Uploaded March 2018 | Updated October 2024, 9 hours ago.
High School Chemistry
The reaction of lithium metal with water.
A small piece of lithium metal, approx. 0.5cm diameter, is dropped into a beaker of water.
The lithium reacts quite quickly.
Observations:
1 The lithium floats, lithium is less dense than water.
2 Lithium reacts quickly; a hissing sound is heard due to gas being produced and bubbles of colourless gas are seen around the metal.
3 The lithium keeps its irregular shape and gradually gets smaller as it reacts and is used up.
lithium + water = lithium hydroxide + hydrogen
In this case, Universal Indicator was not added to the water, which is usually done to show the production of the alkali lithium hydroxide.
High School Chemistry
The reaction of lithium metal with water.
A small piece of lithium metal, approx. 0.5cm diameter, is dropped into a beaker of water.
The lithium reacts quite quickly.
Observations:
1 The lithium floats, lithium is less dense than water.
2 Lithium reacts quickly; a hissing sound is heard due to gas being produced and bubbles of colourless gas are seen around the metal.
3 The lithium keeps its irregular shape and gradually gets smaller as it reacts and is used up.
lithium + water = lithium hydroxide + hydrogen
In this case, Universal Indicator was not added to the water, which is usually done to show the production of the alkali lithium hydroxide.
