Sodium when kept in the air catchs fire spontaneously.How and why does it occur?

Dear Student,

Please find below the solution to the asked query:

Sodium is a very reactive metal. It reacts with oxygen and moisture/water in the air to evolve hydrogen gas. The reactions are:

  Na + 4O2 =  2Na2O

​ Na2O + 2H2O  =  2NaOH + H2

Hydrogen is explosive and catches fire easily in presence of oxygen. So, it is not sodium metal that is catches fire but the hydrogen gas.

 

Hope this information will clear your doubts about how and why sodium catches fire in presence of moist air or water.

If you have any more doubts just ask here on the forum and our experts will try to help you out as soon as possible.

Regards

  • 2
This is because Sodium's  ignition temperature is lower then the room temperature. Therefore, it catches fire at room temperature
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It occurs because sodium is a very reactive metal & reacts with air vigorously.
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