Sodium metal reacts vigorously with water.


(a) Name the gas evolved when sodium reacts with water.


(b) State whether the solution formed by the reaction of sodium with water is acidic or basic.

(a) Metals react with water to produce hydrogen gas. Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Sodium is a highly reactive metal. It even reacts with the moisture present in air. The reaction of sodium with water is highly exothermic in nature. It produces a lot of heat energy and this heat energy can cause the hydrogen gas produced during the reaction, to catch fire. In order to keep it safe, sodium metal is stored in kerosene.

(b) Metals reacts with water to form metal hydroxides and hydrogen gas. These metallic hydroxides are basic. Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Sodium hydroxide is basic in nature.

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