Just how hot DOES sodium burn when it contacts water, as compared to more ordinary "household" burning materials such as oak wood, paraffin or vegetable oil, anthracite coal, etc.? Is it hot enough to have any effect on silica sand? I'm looking for comparative info for the sake of my fiction novel-writing. Also, will sodium still react with water if fine particles of it are held in suspension in any sort of liquid (that liquid itself possibly being something combustible) before water is introduced? I come up with ideas but don't understand enough chemical details to know if they'd work at all... :-)
2006-10-23 10:00:23 · 3 answers · asked by vermeil dragon 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The reaction is 2Na+H2O---> 2NaOH+H2 & a LOT of heat.
It is the H2 coming off that burns.
It does not usually get hot enough to fuse silica.
If Na particles are suspended in a hydrophobic (doesn't mix with water) liquid, You won't get much reaction because the paricles won't contact water that much.
2006-10-23 10:07:32 · answer #1 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 16⤊ 0⤋
Sodium "burns" when it comes into contact with water because the positively charged sodium ion "takes" the negatively charged hydroxide ion from the water molecule. This generates heat and hydrogen gas (along with sodium hydroxide, but that's not important right now). Because of the heat generated by the "burning" sodium, the hydrogen ignites, producing a flame. Household materials don't burn in water because they won't react with water chemically. I suppose that it would be possible to cause water to react with sodium particles that have been suspended in another liquid, but there would not be enough heat to set the liquid ablaze, if that was your plan. It is highly unlikely that burning sodium would have enough heat to melt silica sand, but I am not 100% sure at the moment (just 98%).
P.S. By continuing down the column that sodium is in, one finds more and more reactive elements; cesium being dropped in water is a truly awesome sight, a mere teaspoon literally explodes! But your best bet for availability would be either sodium or potassium.
2006-10-23 10:18:35 · answer #2 · answered by Andrew M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sodium itself doesn't burn..it releases hydrogen gas when it comes in contact with water.... the hydrogen burns....Don't think the temperature is very high, certainly not high enought to melt sand....as for a suspension...Sodium is packed in oil and has a low density..it would probally float in most liquids.
If you're looking for a bigger bang, potassium reacts much more reactively
2006-10-23 10:09:10 · answer #3 · answered by The Cheminator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋