Some metals do not react with water. Calcium bubbles vigorously, then seem to disappear. The bubbles are hydrogen gas.
Calcium + Water → Calcium hydroxide + hydrogen

 

How do other metals react with water?
The group 1 metals react vigorously with water. There is a flame when potassium reacts with water. Sodium and lithium react slightly less vigorously.
There is a pattern in the group 1 metal reactions with water. They all make soluble hydroxides and hydrogen gas.
Potassium + Water → Potassium hydroxide + hydrogen 

 

Important Information
The state symbols are:

(L) for the liquid state

(aq) for a substance dissolved in water

 

How do metals react with steam?
Magnesium reacts slowly with cold water but reacts vigorously with steam. Zinc and iron also react with steam. The products are hydrogen and a metal oxide. Copper and gold are unreactive. They do not react with cold water or steam, just as they do not react with dilute acids and oxygen.

 

What is the reactivity series?
The pattern of metal reactions with acids oxygen and water are similar.The reactivity series describes theses patterns. It lists the metals in order of how vigorously they react. The metals at the top have vigorous reaction and going down the list the metals get less reactive.