This is from a packet that my chem. teacher gave me as homework that is due tommorow. We did a lab on the alkali metals, which react to water. Sodium and Potassium are both alkali metals.
PLEASE HELP!
2007-11-29 13:42:19 · 3 answers · asked by oh.emgeeitzjesska 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The Na+ and K+ in Gatorade are already oxidized, so they cannot be oxidized further just by being in water. The K+ and Na+ are not metals. They're the same as after your teacher blew them up in water.
It's the same as asking why water H2O doesn't catch on fire because it has H2 in it.
2007-11-29 13:50:06 · answer #1 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The sodium and potassium in Gatorade are added in the form of salts (I had to dig an old bottle out of the bin to check the label: sodium as the chloride and citrate salts, potassium as the monohydrogen phosphate salt). Thus, both Na and K are ionic, with "noble gas configuration" of electrons about them, hence chemically stable.
2007-11-29 13:53:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are present as ions Na+ & K+. (salts probably added as sodium/potassium chlorides) It is not possible to have free elements (metal) in water as they are so reactive.
2007-11-29 13:51:28 · answer #3 · answered by Aurium 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋