What are the chemical properties of water?

What are the chemical properties of water?

Aug 26, 2022, 16:45 IST

Chemical properties of water:

i) Reaction with metals: Metals of group IA & IIA decompose water to liberate H ₂ along with evolution of energy (Exothermic reaction). Hot metals like Zn, Mg, Fe etc, decompose water to liberate H ₂ . Pb and Cu decompose water only on heating. Ag, Au, Hg & Pt metals donot decompose water.

ii) Reaction with Non-metals: Fluorine decomposes cold water forming ozonized oxygen. Chlorine decomposes cold water forming HCl & HClO, However, in presence of sunlight HCl and O ₂ is formed. Red hot coke on reaction with steam produce water gas.

iii) Reaction with non metal oxide: Acidic oxides combine with water to form oxo-acid like carbonic acid, sulphurous acid, sulphuric acid, orthophosphoric acid, nitric acid, perchloric acid etc.,

iv) Reaction with Metal oxides: Basic oxides combine with water to form alkalies.

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v) Reaction with hydrides, carbides, nitrides & phosphides: Water decomposes these compounds with liberation of hydrogen, acetylene, ammonia, phosphine respectively.

vi) Hydrolysis: Salt of strong bases with weak acids, weak bases with strong acids and weak bases with weak acids undergo hydrolysis in water. Some slats like BiCl ₃ , SbCl ₃ on hydrolysis form oxy compounds. Halides of non-metals like PCl ₃ , PCl ₅ , SiCl ₄ etc are decomposed by water.

vii) Water of crystallization: It forms hydrates like CuSO ₄ . 5H ₂ O, MgSO ₄ . 7H ₂ O, FeSO ₄ .7H ₂ O, BaCl ₂ . 2H ₂ O etc., on combination with water during crystallization. The water present in the hydrates is called water of crystallization. These are of 3 – types (i) cationic (ii) Anion (iii) Lattice.

viii) Water as catalyst: Perfectly dry gases generally do not react but ammonia & HCl gas combine only in presence of moisture.

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