Drop pure sodium into water, and you’ll get some explosive results. You might have even seen this yourself. Sodium-in-water is a common chemistry class demonstration and scientists have a solid grasp of what’s happening during the reaction.
Sodium metal reacts rapidly with water to form a colourless solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H2). The resulting solution is basic because of the dissolved hydroxide. The reaction is exothermic. During the reaction, the sodium metal may well become so hot that it catches fire and burns with a characteristic orange colour. The reaction is slower than that of potassium (immediately below sodium in the periodic table), but faster than that of lithium (immediately above sodium in the periodic table).
When a science enthusiast decided to throw a pound of solid sodium into a river, the reaction was fierce.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5y_1nGULdM
Although the video is rather stunning, do not try this anyway! This may be dangerous for you, and harmful to the environment.
What do you think about it? Let’s comment below…
