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Garrett Teng

Mrs. Stevens

Physical Science

12 December 2018

Do Different Types of Water Produce a Larger Explosion with Sodium?

We often think of sodium as table salt, but it is not. It is actually a highly reactive metal

that exploded viciously in water. When placed in water, it rips apart the water molecules and

ignites the hydrogen to make an explosion of molten sodium and sparks. I thought that If I

individually mix distilled water, tap water, salt water from the Ocean, spring water with sodium,

then salt water will create the largest explosion.

Why Is Sodium So Reactive?

Sodium is unstable and reactive. It only has one valence electron, so that means that it

only has one electron on its outer ring (Crow). It is in the alkali metal group, which is where

many of unstable and highly reactive metals are (Pappas). Elements always want to make their

outer ring complete, so they are stable. The sodium always wants to bond to something, so it will

tear apart any molecule to make itself stable. Sodium will even collapse on itself because it is so

unstable (Britannica)

What Is Distilled Water?

Distilled water is regular water that has been boiled, and then condensed back down into

a liquid. The vapor is pure of any metals and minerals (Bakar). Distilled water is plain H2O with

no other things. Distilling water is used to strip out any other liquids. It is basically water that has

been turned into a gas, and then turned back into water (Helmenstine). Distilled water is

completely pure.
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How Does the Reaction Happen Between Sodium And Water?

The reaction between sodium and water is fascinating. The electrons of the sodium rip

apart the surrounding water molecules. The water then makes hydrogen. Then the heat of the

sodium ignites the large amount of hydrogen, that makes and explosion. Sodium uses the water

molecules to make itself complete and stable. The sodium has no negative charges, so the

sodium breaks away from itself and makes itself explode. The sodium only has one valence

electron, so it wants to bond with something that will make it complete (Crow).

What Is in Tap Water, And What Is the Difference Between Hard And Soft Water?

Tap water has many different chemicals and metals in it. It has, Liquified chlorine,

Fluorosilicic acid, Aluminium sulfate, Calcium hydroxide, Sodium silicofluoride, and

Trihalomethanes. It also has salts of arsenic, radium, aluminum, copper, lead, mercury,

cadmium, barium, it also has Hormones, Nitrates, Pesticides, and fluoride. Hard water has a high

mineral content in it, and it has calcium and magnesium. Soft water has very few minerals in it

(Hard)(Soft).

How Do You Measure the Size of an Explosion?

To measure an explosion, it is all arbitrary. You can use joules, which is a measure for

energy. You could also use weight to see how much of force it made. You could also use how

much movement it made, and the shockwave it sent. Or, you could use how much noise it made.

You could also use how much destruction it did to something (Thompson).

What Safety Precautions Should Be Taken When Exploding Sodium?

Sodium metal is very dangerous. You should not inhale it nor let it touch wet skin.It will

explode on you and burn you. You should not let it touch the air, because it might spontaneously

react. You should not put it in your eye or eat it. You should wear safety goggles, a fireproof
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jacket with long sleeves, and safety gloves. Sodium is very reactive (Sodium)(Roy).

I thought that If I individually mix distilled water, tap water, salt water (Ocean), spring

water with sodium, then salt water will create the largest explosion, and I found out that Ocean

water will make the biggest explosion. In the end, the average of all of the waters was 5.25

centimeters. Tap water had an average of 4.6 centimeters. Distilled water had an average of 4.5

centimeters. Spring water had an average of 3 centimeters. Salt water had an average of 8.83

centimeters. Salt water created the biggest explosion with sodium.

Works Cited
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Bakar, Faima. “What Is Distilled Water and Where Can You Buy It?” Metro, Metro.co.uk, 30

Aug. 2018, 3:32pm, metro.co.uk/2018/08/30/what-is-distilled-water-and-where-can-you-

buy-it-7896320/.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Sodium.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia

Britannica, Inc., 16 Oct. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/sodium.

Crow, James Mitchell. “A Better Explanation for Why Sodium Explodes in Water.” Cosmos, 9

Feb. 2015, cosmosmagazine.com/chemistry/better-explanation-why-sodium-explodes-

water.

Dhar, Michael. “What Is Distilled Water?” Live Science, Michael Dhar, 25 Nov. 2013, 4:46pm,

www.livescience.com/41510-what-is-distilled-water.html.

Geoff. “What's in Your Drinking Water?” Tap Water Content - Chemicals and Contaminants in

Water, freshlysqueezedwater.org.uk/waterarticle_watercontent.php.

Helmenstine, Anne Marie. “Understand How Distillation Works.” Thoughtco., Dotdash, 4 Mar.

2017, www.thoughtco.com/what-is-distillation-601964.

Pappas, Stephanie. “Facts About Sodium.” LiveScience, Purch, 19 Feb. 2015, 9:43pm,

www.livescience.com/28820-sodium.html.

Thompson, Helen. “It's Strangely Difficult to Measure Big Explosions.” Smithsonian.com,

Smithsonian Institution, 14 Aug. 2015, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-do-

we-measure-explosions-180956271/.

Roy, Asit. “KPL BLOG.” Chemical Companies In India, 18 July 2014,

www.kplintl.com/blog/sodium-metal-facts-dangers-and-safety-precautions/.
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“Sodium Metal.” CALCIUM OXIDE, 23 Sept. 1997,

hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/s2594.htm.

“What Is Soft Water and Why It Is Important.” Water Technology, 23 July 2015,

www.watertechonline.com/what-is-soft-water-and-why-it-is-important/.

“What Is Hard Water? - The Hard Facts | Whirlpool.” Whirlpool Water Solutions,

www.whirlpoolwatersolutions.com/learning-center/water-softeners/hard-water-the-hard-

facts/.