What form of calcium will react with water?

Question

My chemistry teacher did an experiment with calcium and water and produced hydrogen gas but it was just a demonsrtration and we haven't learned the exact formula yet. wondering if there was any way of duplicating this with household/storebought items.

Answer 1

Guess it kinda k**e pure sodium metal (Na) react with water to make hydrogen. But I haven't seen calcium reaction before (haven't tried). Anyway, the reaction must be

Ca + 2H2O ----> Ca(OH)2 + H2

just like Na

at home, you can find some lime stone, heat it up... Wait a minute, I don't think so. cause calcium is pretty reactive, it usually exist in salt, which mean you can not find pure Ca for this experiment

Answer 2

Yes, it is pure Ca metal.  You can find it for sale online sometimes, but as the other answerer mentioned, it is difficult to make, and should be stored under oil or inert gas to prevent oxidation (it will be eaten away if left in air long enough).  Calcium hydride will also react with water to produce hydrogen gas:

CaH2 + 2H2O ------> Ca(OH)2 + 2H2

But calcium hydride is a rather uncommon compound, and if your teacher said that the reaction was between "calcium and water," pure calcium metal was used...