Question

Why is sodium stored in kerosene while phosphorus is stored in water? (Clear Explanation)

Answer 1

Phosphorus is stored in water because phosphorus is very reactive non metal. It catches fire if exposed to air. To prevent the contact of phosphorus with atmospheric oxygen,it is stored in water. Whereas,sodium is very reactive. It reacts vigorously with oxygen and water. A lot of heat is generated in the reaction. It is, therefore,stored in kerosene.

Sodium reacts vigourously with air which prevents it to be stored outside kerosine.
Kerosene is composed of saturated hydrocarbons, with which sodium does not react. It does react rapidly, however, with the water vapor and oxygen in air and therefore must be protected from it in order to remain in elemental form. The following excerpt from an earlier answer to this question, "[sodium] is unsaturated hydrocarbon . eventhough sodium is highly reactive it doesn't reacts with oxygen when Na++ is preserved in kerosene. hence," is wrong from beginning to end and should be ignored.

Answer 2

Heyy!!

Sodium is stored in kerosene as it is very reactive metal and if stored in water or in open it will react vigorously with the oxygen in water or air...
While phosphorus is very less reactive and does not react on storing in water...

Hope it helped..!!