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Which one of the following metals floats in cold water?

June 1, 2025 by rawan239

Which one of the following metals floats in cold water?

Magnesium

Calcium

Potassium

Copper

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

Potassium is a metal that floats in cold water.

Metals less dense than water (density < 1 g/cm³) and which react with water tend to float. Potassium (density ~0.89 g/cm³) and Sodium (density ~0.97 g/cm³) are alkali metals that are less dense than water and react vigorously with cold water, producing hydrogen gas which aids flotation. Calcium (density ~1.55 g/cm³) is denser than water but reacts with cold water, and the hydrogen bubbles produced stick to its surface, causing it to float temporarily. Magnesium and Copper do not react with cold water in a way that causes them to float.

Highly reactive metals like Potassium and Sodium react exothermically with cold water to form hydroxides and hydrogen gas. This reaction can be quite vigorous. While Calcium also reacts with cold water and floats, Potassium and Sodium are well-known examples of metals that float and move rapidly on the surface during the reaction. Among the options provided, Potassium is the most definitive answer for a metal that floats in cold water due to its low density and vigorous reaction.

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