Question

From the statement "sodium metal reacts with water to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen," identify the reactants and the products.

Short answer

Reactants: sodium metal and water; Products: sodium hydroxide and hydrogen.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Chemical Reaction

The statement describes a chemical reaction where sodium metal and water interact to form new substances.

Identify the Reactants

Reactants are substances that start a chemical reaction. In the given statement, 'sodium metal' and 'water' are mentioned as the initial substances that interact. Therefore, the reactants are sodium metal and water.

Identify the Products

Products are substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction. According to the statement, the substances produced are 'sodium hydroxide' and 'hydrogen.' Therefore, the products of this reaction are sodium hydroxide and hydrogen.

Key concepts

Reactants

In any chemical reaction, reactants are crucial because they are the starting materials that undergo changes. Think of reactants as the ingredients you would use while cooking; they are consumed during the process of creating something new. For the reaction in the example, we have two reactants: sodium metal and water.
Reactants are typically found at the start of a chemical equation. For example, in the reaction of sodium with water, the chemical equation is:\[ \text{2 Na (s) + 2 H}_2\text{O (l)} \rightarrow \text{2 NaOH (aq) + H}_2\text{(g)} \]- **Sodium (Na):** A soft, silvery-white metal that's highly reactive, especially with water.
- **Water (H}_2\text{O):** A liquid that acts as a solvent and reactant.Understanding reactants helps in predicting the outcomes of the reactions, allowing chemists to establish how much of each reactant is necessary to produce a desired amount of product.

Products

Products in a chemical reaction are the substances you end up with after the reaction concludes. Think of them as the cake at the end of baking, the result of mixing and baking your ingredients. For the sodium and water reaction, the products are sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
In a chemical equation, products are what you find on the right side of the arrow. Using our previous example:\[ \text{2 Na (s) + 2 H}_2\text{O (l)} \rightarrow \text{2 NaOH (aq) + H}_2\text{(g)} \]The products are:- **Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH):** This is a compound that dissolves in water to form an alkaline solution, used in various applications from soap making to water treatment.- **Hydrogen Gas (H}_2):** A colorless, odorless gas that is flammable and often used as a clean fuel source.
Each reaction may result in different products, depending on the nature of the reactants and the conditions of the reaction itself.

Sodium and Water Reaction

The reaction between sodium and water is a classic example of a highly exothermic chemical reaction. Exothermic reactions release energy in the form of heat, sometimes accompanied by light or sound.
In this particular reaction, when sodium comes into contact with water, it reacts vigorously. As observed:- **Bubbles are produced,** which is hydrogen gas being released.- **Heat is generated,** enough to potentially ignite the hydrogen gas, causing a small flame.
The equation for this reaction is:\[ \text{2 Na (s) + 2 H}_2\text{O (l)} \rightarrow \text{2 NaOH (aq) + H}_2\text{(g)} \]This reaction demonstrates the reactive nature of alkali metals like sodium. Safety precautions are necessary when handling these materials due to the violent nature of the reaction. Despite the dramatic reaction, it shows how new substances like sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas are formed from just sodium and water.