What are the products when sodium reacts with water?

Study for the IGCSE Edexcel Chemistry Test. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What are the products when sodium reacts with water?

Explanation:
When alkali metals meet water, they form a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. For sodium, this means sodium hydroxide forms in solution and hydrogen gas is released. The reaction is balanced as 2 Na + 2 H2O → 2 NaOH + H2. So the products are sodium hydroxide (in solution) and hydrogen. The other possibilities don’t fit because oxide, carbonate, or chloride would come from reacting with oxygen, carbonates, or chlorides, not from water alone.

When alkali metals meet water, they form a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. For sodium, this means sodium hydroxide forms in solution and hydrogen gas is released. The reaction is balanced as 2 Na + 2 H2O → 2 NaOH + H2. So the products are sodium hydroxide (in solution) and hydrogen. The other possibilities don’t fit because oxide, carbonate, or chloride would come from reacting with oxygen, carbonates, or chlorides, not from water alone.

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