Question

Name two metals that do not react with water at all.

Answer 1

Hint: The metals that do not react with water at all are chemically inert noble metals. They are present in nature in pure form. Such metals are used in the preparation of ornaments.

Complete answer:
> Generally metals react with water to form metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. For example, sodium metal reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Highly reactive metals (sodium, potassium and calcium) react with water at room temperature, whereas less reactive metals (magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron) react with boiling water (or steam).
Two metals that do not react with water are gold and silver.
> Gold and silver are least reactive metals. This is because a huge amount of energy is needed to break metallic bonds present within layers. Gold and silver are noble metals. They have inert nature and are present at the bottom of the reactivity series. In nature, gold and silver are present in pure form as they do not react with other metals or mineral acids.
Gold and silver metals are used in the preparation of ornaments (jewellery), coins etc.

Additional Information: Gold and silver have layers of metallic ions in which a sea of delocalised electrons is present. Hence, they are good conductors of heat and electricity.

Note: Alkali and alkaline earth metals react strongly with water, but transition metals have somewhat lower reactivity with water. On moving from left to right in a period, the reactivity of metals with water decreases.