When a piece of sodium metal is tossed into a beaker of water, a violent chemical reaction happens. The sodium metal and water react to form hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide. The heat of the reaction is so large that the hydrogen gas that is produced ignites and burns! Answer the following questions about the reactions between sodium metal and water.
a. Write out the complete chemical reaction. Include reactants, products, and the state of matter for each reactant and product.
b. What type of reaction is it? (combination, decomposition, single-replacement, double replacement, or combustion)
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) ==> 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
This is a single replacement reaction.
a. The complete chemical reaction between sodium metal (Na) and water (H2O) is as follows:
2Na (s) + 2H2O (l) -> 2NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)
b. The type of reaction is a single-replacement reaction, also known as a displacement reaction. In this case, the sodium metal replaces the hydrogen in water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
a. The complete chemical reaction between sodium metal and water can be written as:
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) -> 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
In this reaction, solid sodium (Na) reacts with liquid water (H2O) to produce aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H2).
b. The type of reaction is a combination reaction. A combination reaction, also known as a synthesis reaction, is a type of chemical reaction where two or more substances combine to form a more complex product. In this case, sodium metal and water combine to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.