QC#18 – Sodium Metal Exploding

Sodium metal is thrown in a fish pond, and blows up violently.

See the full project video: http://bit.ly/CrazyScienceStunts

Next Video: Solar Scrambled Eggs: http://bit.ly/QCSolarScrambledEggs
Previous Video: Alcohol Fireball: http://bit.ly/QCAlcoholFireball

Subscribe for new videos every 5 days! http://bit.ly/TKoRSubscribe
Join my email list! http://bit.ly/TKOREmailList

“Quick Clips” are clips of random experiments in a minute or less.

For other project videos, check out http://www.thekingofrandom.com

Social Media Links:

Google+: http://bit.ly/plusgrant
Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBTheKingOfRandom
Instagram: http://bit.ly/instagrant
Twitter: http://bit.ly/tweetgrant
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/pingrant
Tumblr: http://bit.ly/grantstumblr

Music By:
Music by Jason Shaw (RP-Clattertrap)
http://www.audionautix.com

Project Inspired By:

A friend named Dustin. He said his scout group would put chunks of sodium metal in a wheel barrow full of water, then throw a piece of wood on it to make it explode and blast the wood up into the air. He is the one who gave me these samples.

WARNING: There were no fish in this fish pond at the time of this experiment. Sodium is an extremely reactive metal and will produce extreme heat, NaOH, and explosive Hydrogen gas. Molten sodium can be thrown out of the water and cause caustic burns to skin, and damage to eyes. Use of video content is at own risk.

Project History & More Info:

Sodium is an extremely reactive metal and the reaction with water produces jets of hydrogen gas below the waterline.

When the sodium gets trapped under the piece of wood, enough heat can be generated to boil the water around the metal and actually melt the sodium. If the sodium gets hot enough, the hydrogen jets can ignite and burn.

Burning hydrogen makes the temperature rise even faster. The rate of the reaction increases so quickly that an explosion may occur! Molten sodium can be thrown out of the dish and leave burns on skin.

Wear goggles and stand behind a safety shield when you’re anywhere near this reaction.