Lithium reacts with water to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas
That's correct! Lithium reacts with water to produce lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and hydrogen gas (H2). This is a common reaction for alkali metals like lithium. The chemical equation for this reaction is:
2Li + 2H2O -> 2LiOH + H2
To understand why this reaction occurs, we need to consider the reactivity of lithium and the properties of water.
Lithium is highly reactive and belongs to the alkali metal group on the periodic table. It readily donates its outermost electron to form a positive ion (Li+). When lithium comes into contact with water, the water molecules act as a source of oxygen atoms, which can readily accept the electron from lithium.
As a result, the lithium atom loses an electron and becomes a positively charged lithium ion (Li+), while the water molecule gains an electron and forms a hydroxide ion (OH-) and a hydrogen ion (H+). The hydroxide ions then combine with the lithium ions to form lithium hydroxide (LiOH). Meanwhile, the hydrogen ions combine to form hydrogen gas (H2).
In summary, the reaction between lithium and water occurs because of the high reactivity of lithium and the ability of water to provide oxygen atoms to form hydroxide ions.