We took sodium with tweezers and put it on a saucer. With a metal knife, we cut sodium and checked its electrical conductivity with a battery. Then we placed it in a glass of water with tweezers.

Sodium is a soft, silver substance (at room temperature) and when we cut it with a metal knife it appeared to be shiny.

By adding sodium into the water a colorless solution is formed, consisting of strongly alkalic sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and hydrogen gas. When sodium reacts with water, it takes away hydroxide of the water molecules forming NaOH. This is an exothermic reaction.

By placing sodium in a glass of water, it started to move very fast all around the surface of the water. The water started to become less transparent and white smoke started to form above the sodium on the water.

When we put the test tube above the moving sodium, and then directly above the candle, a sound was made. By putting phenolphthalein (transparent substance) in the solution of sodium and water, the solution turned its color in pink/purple.

The sodium moves around the glass cup because it is pushed around by the hydrogen which is given off during the reaction. It releases enough energy to ignite hydrogen gas, which, with oxygen in the atmosphere, can burn explosively.

Also, we tested and proved sodium’s properties; malleability, ductility, luster, conductivity, softness.