[Vwdiesel] Salty valves

[Shawn Wright]

On 21 Jun 2004 at 22:30, LBaird119 at aol.com <LBaird119 at aol.com> wrote:

> In a message dated 6/21/2004 6:25:38 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
> dennis at pantazis.org writes:
> 
> > sodium is also VERY reactive with water, at times
> > explosive because the reaction is so violent!
> > 
> 
>   We were lucky enough to be allowed to watch a demonstration of 
> that in HS chem class.  :)  Stuff just scoots and dances around on 
> the water making all kinds of noise.  The explosive part comes from 
> H2 gas being released as I recall.  The pure stuff is stored in oil to 
> keep it from reacting with moisture and air.  He used to get Potasium 
> occasionally and said it ALWAYS broke into flame.  :)  Probably 
> don't allow Sodium demonstration in school any more.  :(

Yes, and if the reaction is large enough, and the H2 gas is partially contained, there is 
enough heat to ignite the gas and well, a nice big fireball reaching 30 feet high is the 
result...
A baseball sized chunk of sodium, wrapped in a paper bag, then dropped in a garbage 
can full of water will produce the above - don't ask how I know this... ;-)

--
Shawn Wright
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
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