What type of chemical reaction is sodium combining with oxygen to form sodium oxide?
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What is the reaction of sodium and oxygen?
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16 Answers

Joe Hall, A Chemistry graduate, University of London
Updated December 29, 2016
Oxides of sodium include :
Sodium Peroxide, Na2O2
Sodium monoxide, Na2O
Sodium superoxide, NaO2, &
Sodium ozonide, NaO3
Sodium peroxide is the principal product when sodium is heated in an excess of air. Sodium monoxide is the initial intermediate product. The peroxide is a yellowish solid. Melting point 460°C and decomposes. It reacts violently with water. A characteristic feature of ionic peroxides is the formation of hydrates and H2O2 adducts.
Sodium monoxide can be prepared impure by heating sodium in a limited supply of air; but is better prepared by the thermal decomposition of the peroxide with sodium. It is a white solid . Melting point 1132°C. Boiling point 1950°C and sublimates. Sodium monoxide is a corrosive and reacts violently with water. Sodium oxide is a significant component of glass; but it does not exist in glass in its free form. Glass being a complex mixture.
Sodium superoxide is prepared by treating sodium peroxide with oxygen at high pressures. It can also be prepared by oxygenation of a solution of sodium in liquid ammonia. It is a yellow-orange solid. It is paramagnetic as expected for a salt of the O2- anion.
Sodium ozonide is a very unstable red crystalline solid. An explosive that has to be handled at low temperatures in an inert gas atmosphere. It is prepared by treating sodium hydroxide with ozone; ( the corresponding potassium, rubidium, and Caesium ozonides can also be prepared by burning the alkali metal in ozone ).
Peroxide anion O2- -
Superoxide O2-
Oxide O- -
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Trevor Cheung, Chemistry Enthusiast, though a mere 18-year-old guy
Obviously another redox reaction:
4Na + O2 → 2Na2O (s)
Or
Na + O2 → NaO2 (s)
2Na + O2 → Na2O2 (s)
There are a lot of oxides of sodium and they are all possible. But the most likely one is the first one.
Products of the reaction:
1st: sodium oxide
2nd: sodium superoxide
3rd: sodium peroxide