Question

Why Sodium metal stored in Kerosene?

Answer 1

Sodium is a very reactive metal. It is kept in kerosene to prevent it from coming in contact with oxygen and moisture. If this happens, it will react with the moisture present in air and form sodium hydroxide. This is a strongly exothermic reaction, and lot of heat is generated.

Answer 2

Sodium is stored in Kerosene Oil because:

• Sodium (Na) is a highly reactive metal.
• It is one of the metals that are placed on top of the reactivity series along with Potassium.
• Reactivity series of metals is a list of metals arranged in decreasing order of their reactivity.
• If it is not stored in kerosene oil, ie, it is kept in open air, it will react with oxygen and oxidize.
• If it is placed in water, it will react with water to form sodium hydroxide.
• Thus, it is stored in kerosene oil.