(a) Why is sodium kept immersed in kerosene oil?
(b) Why is white phosphorus kept immersed under water?
(c) Can we keep sodium immersed under eater? Why?
Answers
Answer:
sodium metal is very reactive it react vigorously with oxygen and water a lot of heat is than generated in this reaction it is therefore stored in kerosene and phosphorus is a very reactive nonmetal it catch fire if exposed to air to prevent the contact of phosphorus with atmospheric oxygen it is stored in water
Sodium is Highly Reactive
Explanation:
a.) Sodium is highly reactive metals and reacts vigorously with oxygen present in the air such that it may even catch fire.
Sodium does not react with kerosene; this is the reason for preserving sodium in kerosene.
b.) White phosphorus is kept in water for the following reasons:
(a) It has low ignition temperature and hence it can start burning at the room temperature-
(a) By keeping it in water it does not reach its ignition temperature and thus does not start burning.
(b) Reaction with water is possible.
c.) No, we cannot keep sodium immersed in water. Sodium Hydroxide is formed when sodium & water.