Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Chemistry (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=68)
-   -   Chemical Reactions (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=287971)

  • Dec 3, 2008, 02:31 PM
    weeT1701
    Chemical Reactions
    Why is reacting sodium metal with dilute sulphuric acid a bad idea?
  • Dec 3, 2008, 09:24 PM
    cytochromeb6f2

    Sodium is an alkali metal; elements in this group are highly reactive with water.

    Here's the general equation; alkali metal=M in this example.

    2M(s) + 2H20(l) --> 2M+(aq) + 2 HO-(aq) + H2(g)

    This is an incredibly exothermic reaction; the energy released from the reaction of Na and H20 is usually enough to ignite the hydrogen gas formed in the reaction.

    In plain words - EXPLOSION!!

    Now, I realize you are talking about dilute H2SO4, but the result is roughly similar.

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:32 PM.