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Is there a real world use for the reaction of sodium and water?

I mean a use in daily life, in a certain job, something like that. If not, is there any other single replacement reaction that is used in daily life?

Public Comments

1. Well, the products of that reaction are sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which is used in soap, and hydrogen gas (H2) which can be used as a clean fuel, whose combustion produces just water. However, commercial sodium hydroxide as well as H2 are obtained in more efficient ways than this. Sodium metal is difficult to obtain.. Rare earth elements are naturally present as salts.
2. Sodium reacts with water to produce lye and hydrogen gas: 2Na + 2H2O -> 2NaOH + H2 Hydrogen is a fuel and lye is a strong base which can be used to manufacture soap and paper. However, Lye and Hydrogen are not commercially produced like this because there are no natural sources of pure Sodium metal on earth. Sodium is usually found as sea salt, NaCl. When a solution of concentrated brine is subjected to a DC electric current, the products are Lye, Chlorine and Hydrogen gas: 2NaCl + 2H2O -> 2NaOH + Cl2 + H2 Sodium metal can be manufactured by melting salt and subjecting it to electric current. This was how Sodium was discovered. Most Hydrogen gas is manufactured by electrolyzing water. This splits the H2O into Oxygen and Hydrogen gas.
3. Sure there is, it is great fun to watch. Ever check out Theodore Grays Sodium party online? It is a classic demonstration done at thousands of high schools. And no, sodium metal is not extremely hard to get, I sell it by the pound on ebay and on my website unrestrictedchemicals.com