Question

Write scientific reason.

Sodium is always kept in kerosene.

In the laboratory, sodium is immersed in kerosene.

Answer 1

Kerosene contains sodium as:

1. As a highly reactive metal, sodium interacts with water in a highly exothermic manner.
2. It has a strong reaction with water and oxygen.
3. It can generate much heat when it reacts with oxygen and water vapor in the atmosphere.
4. To prevent this strong reaction, it is thus stored or maintained in kerosene.

Answer 2

1. Sodium reacts with moisture present in air, even at room temperature, to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
   \[\ce{\underset{Sodium}{2Na_{(s)}} + \underset{Water}{2H2O}_{(l)} -> \underset{hydroxide}{\underset{Sodium}{2NaOH}_{(aq)}} + \underset{Hydrogen}{H_{2(g)}}}\]
2. The reaction is exothermic and therefore, the released hydrogen gas readily catches fire on exposure to air. Hence, to prevent accidents, sodium is stored in kerosene.