Question

Potassium and Sodium are two of the strongest metals and even if they are let open or stored in water, they start burning with the help of oxygen. This is why they store these two metals in kerosene. My question is divided into two: a) How Potassium and Sodium do not burn in kerosene? b) How can the scientists use these two metals if they burn by the exposure to air itself?

Answer 1

sodium and potassium does not react with hydrocarbon (kerosene)as it is denser than the hydrocarbon so kerosene is used which extinguishes the supply of air and moisture,
for long term storage mineral oil is used as kerosene can evaporate if it is not sealed perfectly.
scientist use an  argon  which does not react with sodium because it is a noble gas