Unsteady aspects of sodium–water–air reaction

Carnevali, Sofia; Proust, Christophe; Soucille, Michel

doi:10.1016/j.cherd.2013.02.005

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…[1,2] Upon contact between the reagents,electrons move from the alkali metal to water, forming hydrogen and hydroxide in astrongly exothermic process nominally written as 2M+ +2H 2 O!2MOH+ +H 2 (M = alkali metal), which often leads to explosions. [1,3] In our previous study, [4] we showed that ah itherto unrecognized precondition for the explosive behavior is am assive positive charging of the metal drop upon exit of the valence electrons from the alkali metal to water. This can create an electrostatic instability,which leads to metal spikes shooting into water, ensuring efficient reactant mixing.…”

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confidence: 97%

A Non‐Exploding Alkali Metal Drop on Water: From Blue Solvated Electrons to Bursting Molten Hydroxide

et al. 2016

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Alkali metals in water are always at the brink of explosion. Herein, we show that this vigorous reaction can be kept in a non-exploding regime, revealing a fascinating richness of hitherto unexplored chemical processes. A combination of high-speed camera imaging and visible/near-infrared/infrared spectroscopy allowed us to catch and characterize the system at each stage of the reaction. After gently placing a drop of a sodium/potassium alloy on water under an inert atmosphere, the production of solvated electrons became so strong that their characteristic blue color could be observed with the naked eye. The exoergic reaction leading to the formation of hydrogen and hydroxide eventually heated the alkali metal drop such that it became glowing red, and part of the metal evaporated. As a result of the reaction, a perfectly transparent drop consisting of molten hydroxide was temporarily stabilized on water through the Leidenfrost effect, bursting spectacularly after it had cooled sufficiently.

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mentioning

confidence: 97%

A Non‐Exploding Alkali Metal Drop on Water: From Blue Solvated Electrons to Bursting Molten Hydroxide

et al. 2016

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“…The occurrence of both peaks in the pressure curve has already been studied by Sofia Carnevali, et al [11]. The slight drop in the pressure curve after the steep drop following the second peak is due to the slow cooling of the reaction products caused by heat transmission through the vessel wall.…”

Section: Full Papermentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Na þ H 2 OÀ > NaOH þ 1=2H 2 DH ¼ 141 kJ mol À1 Na ð6:130 MJ kg À1 NaÞ Sofia Carnevali [11] has published that sodium water reaction in stoichiometric proportions, occurring when a water jet penetrates a piece of sodium, delivers 141 kJ mol À1 Na (6.130 MJ kg À1 Na). But in excess of water, as the dissolution in water of the NaOH delivers an additional amount of energy, the practical heat production increases to 188 kJ mol À1 Na (8.174 MJ kg À1 Na), what is very close to the measurements of Ketchen and Wallace [10] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Evaluation of Sodium−Water Reaction (SWR) as Propellant

Guerrero

Gil

Navlet

et al. 2018

Propellants Explo Pyrotec

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The first results of a new line of research are presented, focused on producing rocket propulsion based upon the chemical reaction of two of the most abundant and affordable substances in nature: water and sodium. We have chosen SWR (Sodium Water Reaction) as a fuel candidate for an advanced propellant because of its excellent energetic properties, the absence of polluting products and the simplicity of sodium synthesis process, resulting in a new clean and sustainable energy source for rocket science that facilitates the replacement of current expensive and toxic reactants with a natural low‐cost renewable fuel. We have accomplished the characterization of the Sodium Water Reaction as a function of the nature of the reactants and the geometry of the reactor, including the assessment of the performance in a dedicated device.

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“…It is high‐school chemistry that sodium reacts vigorously with water . Upon contact between the reagents, electrons move from the alkali metal to water, forming hydrogen and hydroxide in a strongly exothermic process nominally written as 2 M+2 H 2 O→2 MOH+H 2 (M=alkali metal), which often leads to explosions . In our previous study, we showed that a hitherto unrecognized precondition for the explosive behavior is a massive positive charging of the metal drop upon exit of the valence electrons from the alkali metal to water.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

A Non‐Exploding Alkali Metal Drop on Water: From Blue Solvated Electrons to Bursting Molten Hydroxide

et al. 2016

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Alkali metals in water are always at the brink of explosion. Herein, we showt hat this vigorous reaction can be kept in an on-exploding regime,r evealing af ascinating richness of hitherto unexplored chemical processes.Acombination of high-speed camera imaging and visible/near-infrared/infrared spectroscopya llowed us to catcha nd characterize the system at each stage of the reaction. After gently placing adrop of as odium/potassium alloy on water under an inert atmosphere,t he production of solvated electrons became so strong that their characteristic blue color could be observed with the naked eye.T he exoergic reaction leading to the formation of hydrogen and hydroxidee ventually heated the alkali metal drop such that it became glowingr ed, and part of the metal evaporated. As aresult of the reaction, aperfectly transparent drop consisting of molten hydroxidewas temporarily stabilized on water through the Leidenfrost effect, bursting spectacularly after it had cooled sufficiently.

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Unsteady aspects of sodium–water–air reaction

Cited by 14 publications

References 2 publications

A Non‐Exploding Alkali Metal Drop on Water: From Blue Solvated Electrons to Bursting Molten Hydroxide

A Non‐Exploding Alkali Metal Drop on Water: From Blue Solvated Electrons to Bursting Molten Hydroxide

Experimental Evaluation of Sodium−Water Reaction (SWR) as Propellant

A Non‐Exploding Alkali Metal Drop on Water: From Blue Solvated Electrons to Bursting Molten Hydroxide

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