Question

Which of the following metal reacts with steam but not hot/cold water?
A.$Al$
B.$Zn$
C.$Fe$
D.All of the above

Answer 1

The reaction ability of any metal with water or any other substance is dependent upon its position in the electrochemical series. The elements in the lower part of the series will react to only steam. Generally, only s-block metals are the only metals which react with water.

Complete step by step answer:
In the electrochemical series of the elements, those placed at the top are the best reducing agents, meaning they have the tendency to donate electrons to get oxidized themselves. As we move the electrochemical series, the reduction ability of the element falls and the oxidation ability increases.
Hence, caesium being the first metal in the series it reacts with ice cold water and as we move down the group Al comes and then comes Zn and lastly Fe. All these three metals react with steam only, and neither with boiling water or cold water, to liberate hydrogen gas and form their respective oxides.

Hence, the correct answer is D, all of the above.

Note:
In the electrochemical series, after caesium all the members of the alkali metals family are arranged after which the members of the alkaline earth metals family are arranged. This is because the alkali metals highly reactive and readily lose electrons to form ions and gain stability. Hence they react with cold water or ice also. Slowly the reactivity is decreased as more and more electrons are added to the shells of the elements their nuclear charge increases and hence their ability to react with water also decreases.