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Question

Be and Mg do not react with water. This is because of:

Be and Mg are kinetically inert to water due to the formation of protective oxide film on the surface of it.


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Solution

Magnesium — is a chemical element with the symbol of Mg with atomic number 12 one of the alkaline-earth metals of group 2 of the periodic table, and the lightest structural metal

  • Mg is almost unreactive towards the water but vigorously with steam.
  • The reason why magnesium doesn't really react with cold water is that it becomes coated with magnesium hydroxide which is insoluble,
  • it prevents water from coming into contact with water

Beryllium — is a chemical element with the symbol Be and atomic number 4 it is a steel-grey, strong, lightweight, and brittle alkaline earth metal and physical and chemical properties similar to those of Mg

  • Beryllium is the only alkaline earth metal
  • it doesn't react with water because the size of beryllium is small
  • The ionization energy of this alkaline earth metal is high when compared to other elements in the group
  • it forms a protective oxide film on the surface
  • oxide of beryllium act as resistant which makes it to low reactive towards the water at room temperature

In general rule — if a metal reacts with cold water, the metal hydroxide is produced. if it reacts with steam, the metal oxide is formed

Thus, Be and Mg do not react with water because Be and Mg are kinetically inert to water due to the formation of protective oxide film on the surface of it.


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