When you pour molten salt(NaCl) into the water, it explodes. But if you pour molten sodium bicarbonate into the water, there's no explosion. Why is this happening???
I'm so confused and I have seen a video of this actually happening. Please help!
I'd like to know how you make molten NaHCO3. It decomposes. Also, I'm not sure I'd believe anything like this unless it was done before my eyes in living color.
@DrBob222: It's sodium carbonate. And the backyard scientist on Youtube has a video on pouring molten salt into a fish tank, which you can watch "before your eyes in living color".
The reason for the different reactions between molten salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) and molten sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) when poured into water is due to their chemical composition and properties.
When molten salt (NaCl) is poured into water, it can cause an explosion because of the rapid heat transfer and resulting steam formation. The high temperature of the molten salt causes the water to vaporize instantly, expanding and creating a sudden increase in pressure. This sudden pressure increase leads to an explosive release of steam and splattering of molten salt.
On the other hand, molten sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) does not typically cause an explosion when poured into water. This is because sodium bicarbonate is a stable compound that decomposes at a relatively high temperature (above 50 degrees Celsius) to produce carbon dioxide gas (CO2), water (H2O), and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). When sodium bicarbonate reacts with water, it releases carbon dioxide gas in a controlled manner rather than with an explosive force.
To further investigate and understand the specific conditions under which these reactions occur, I would recommend conducting additional research or referring to reliable sources such as scientific literature, textbooks, or reputable educational websites.