Reaction of Potassium Metal with Water
Potassium metal reacts vigorously with water to produce potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. This reaction is highly exothermic and can even lead to the ignition of the hydrogen gas produced. Below is a detailed explanation of the reaction:

Chemical Equation:
2K(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2KOH(aq) + H2(g)

Reaction Mechanism:
- When potassium metal is added to water, it immediately starts to react, releasing hydrogen gas.
- The potassium metal displaces hydrogen from water, forming potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
- The hydrogen gas produced can be observed as bubbles during the reaction.

Observations:
- The reaction is highly exothermic, leading to the generation of heat.
- The potassium metal may appear to move around rapidly on the surface of the water due to the release of hydrogen gas.
- The solution may turn pink or purple due to the formation of potassium hydroxide.

Safety Precautions:
- The reaction is highly exothermic, so it should be performed in a controlled environment.
- Care should be taken to handle potassium metal with gloves as it can react violently with moisture.
- Hydrogen gas produced should be handled carefully as it is flammable.

Conclusion:
The reaction of potassium metal with water is a classic example of a metal displacing hydrogen from water to form a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. It is important to observe safety precautions while performing this experiment due to the highly reactive nature of potassium metal.