Which group on the periodic table is the most likely placement for an unidentified metal that exhibits the following characteristics: low melting point, floats in water, and reacts vigorously with water?

Answer 1

Based on the characteristics you provided for the unidentified metal—low melting point, ability to float in water, and vigorous reaction with water—it's most likely that this metal belongs to Group 1 of the periodic table, also known as the alkali metals.

Alkali metals (such as lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium) are characterized by:

1. Low melting points compared to most other metals.
2. Low densities, with some of them (like lithium, sodium, and potassium) being less dense than water, allowing them to float.
3. Vigorous reactions with water, producing hydrogen gas and hydroxides, which can be quite exothermic.

Given these attributes, the unidentified metal would most likely be categorized as an alkali metal.