SODIUM METAL COATED WITH LIQUID PARAFFIN
RXSOL CHEMICAL offers a wide range of laboratory chemicals which includes sodium (metal) (coated with liquid paraffin).
Sodium is one of the alkali metals, a group of famously reactive elements. ... A flurry of electrons abandons the metal, interacting with the water to form hydrogen gas and other byproducts. The reaction generates heat, which melts the sodium, and because hydrogen gas is flammable, it ignites. Or so the story goes.
Sodium is used as a heat exchanger in some nuclear reactors, and as a reagent in the chemicals industry. But sodium salts have more uses than the metal itself. The most common compound of sodium is sodium chloride (common salt). It is added to food and used to de-ice roads in winter.
Sodium metal is highly reactive with water generating flammable hydrogen gas and sufficient heat to cause ignition. It is essential that sodium is stored so that it cannot come into contact with water, including moisture in the atmosphere. Sodium is usually supplied under paraffin oil or under kerosene.
