Alkali metals and water

Posted in Chemistry, Science at 12:00 am by David Bradley -- Click to comment

You’ve probably seen one of those tedious science videos where do they drop a tiny nugget of lithium or sodium into a toughened glass bowl half full of water and watch the metal fizz and sputter.

Exciting, huh? They might even have gone so far as adding an even smaller nugget of potassium, which in the most exciting moment might smash the bowl with its violence.

However, you’ve probably noticed that there are some other alkali metals below potassium in the periodic table. And, you may know that if the element is below it is generally more reactive. So, step in the Brainiac team to show you what dropping a nugget of rubidium into a bathtub of water will do, it’s like pulling the pin on a hand grenade and lobbing that into the tub!

But, thankfully they don’t even stop there, going one step further with caesium, almost the most violent element in terms of reactivity with water.

Check out there video here to find out just how violent. And, remember, this is one best left to the experts rather than attempted for your science fair projects!!! here to find out just how violent. And, remember, this is one best left to the experts rather than attempted for your science fair projects!!!