The essence of the reaction between sodium and water is that sodium and hydrogen ions ionized by water molecules undergo a redox reaction. Sodium loses an electron to form a sodium ion, and the hydrogen ion gains one. electron to form a hydrogen atom, two atoms combine to form hydrogen molecules.
1. The chemical equation for this reaction is
2Na(s)+2H2O(l)→2Na+(aq)+2OH?(aq)+H2( g)
2. Sodium reacts with hydrogen ions
Sodium reacts with hydrogen ions, but does that mean sodium reacts with water molecules or other substances? Indeed, in the sequence of activity of metals, sodium is a very active metal. It loses electrons more easily than hydrogen, so it can reduce hydrogen ions in water to hydrogen gas.
Other substances, such as copper ions, sulfate ions, etc., are more difficult to reduce than hydrogen, so they will not react with sodium.
Since water is a weak electrolyte, it can only be weakly ionized into a small amount of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. When sodium reacts with water, the hydrogen ions present in the water are continually consumed, thereby causing the formation of water. The ionization balance shifts to the right, producing more hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions. This keeps the reaction between sodium and water going.
3. Reactions between sodium and halogens, acids and ethanol
Sodium and halogens (such as chlorine, bromine and iodine) can react directly to form sodium halide sodium white or **. . solid. This reaction is also exothermic and emits bright sparks.
Sodium and acids (such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid) can also react in the same way as water can.r generate the corresponding salts and hydrogen gas. This reaction is also very violent and produces a lot of heat and gas.
Sodium and ethanol can undergo a substitution reaction to generate sodium ether and ethoxide. This reaction requires heating to proceed and produces a small amount of hydrogen gas.
Uses of sodium and water
1. As raw materials for chemical reactions
Sodium and water can undergo violent exothermic reactions, generating hydrogen gas and an alkaline sodium hydroxide solution. This reaction can be used to produce hydrogen gas or to operate certain mechanical devices. A sodium-water reactor is a device that uses high temperature and high pressure gas produced by the reaction of sodium and water to drive a turbine to produce electricity.
2. As a coolant or heat exchange agent
Sodium and water can form a binary azeotropic mixture, that is, under a certain temperature and pressure, both are mixed in a fixed volume. report. The composition of the boiling vapor is the same as that of the liquid phase. This mixture has a high boiling point and specific heat capacity and can be used to cool or heat certain high temperature equipment or systems.