Does Magnesium React With Water?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 28, 2020

Magnesium reacts with water differently depending on the phase of water. Magnesium reacts with steam or water vapor to produce magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas. However, its reaction with cold water produces magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

Magnesium also reacts with many other substances and elements, such as acids, bases, nitrogen, halogens and oxygen.

Magnesium is a very light metal that belongs to group two of the periodic table, and it has an atomic number of 12. It also has a boiling point of 1,090 degrees Celsius and a melting point of 648.8 degrees Celsius. The uses of magnesium include photographic flashbulbs and pyrotechnics.