In Michael Crichton's Timeline, a character made a paste that was combusted when it came into contact with moisture. What was it made of?
2007-01-08 18:11:34 · 3 answers · asked by Aaron 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Sodium, lithium and potassium metals react rapidly with water to form a colourless solution of a metal hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H2). During the reaction, the metal may well become so hot that it catches fire and burns. The reaction of sodium 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).
See images and short videos with potassium and water at http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/K/key.html
One can also use potassium chlorate (KClO3) and sucrose, as is also shown on the site above.
PS: DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME OR UNSUPERVISED!
2007-01-08 18:26:57 · answer #1 · answered by teachbio 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sodium
2007-01-09 02:15:13 · answer #2 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sodium
2007-01-09 02:36:23 · answer #3 · answered by Vaibhav Khurana 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋