Sodium-Potassium Alloy: Blue Solvated Electrons in Water!
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The inspiration for this video came from an article in the well-known journal, Applied Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201605986 In short, we can observe the blue color of solvated electrons not only when alkali metals are dissolved in liquid ammonia but also in water! http://jungwirth.uochb.cas.cz/assets/papers/paper278.pdf _____ 0:00 Sodium-potassium alloy making 3:00 Solvated electrons in liquid ammonia 3:45 NaK and water 4:20 Solvated electrons in water 5:56 I Light a Match with Water! 6:33 Superheated steam and Lithium aluminum hydride 7:17 Superheated steam and sodium-potassium alloy _____ ❤️ 💛 💚 If you enjoy what I do and would like to help me to create unique chemical content please support me on Patreon. __________ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ChemicalForce PayPal: @chemicalforce __________ crypto: BTC: 1828WxhTtqohRiQBHgKtdqrmxsGncsjva2 USDT (ETH): 0x2BbFD4aDEc7520301a408eBf7dD87B8b9935e49C ❤️ 💛 💚
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Alkali metals in water normally explode, but by controlling reaction conditions—using inert atmospheres, careful placement, and temperature manipulation—the vigorous reaction can be stabilized enough to visually observe solvated electrons as a distinctive blue color.
- Solvated electrons, normally invisible due to microsecond lifetimes, become visible as blue color under controlled conditions
- Inert gas atmosphere and gentle contact prevent hydrogen ignition that would cause explosion
- Leidenfrost effect temporarily stabilizes molten hydroxide on water surface, allowing observation before cooling triggers burst
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Solvated electrons—electrons surrounded by a shell of solvent molecules—are visible as a characteristic blue color not only when alkali metals are dissolved in liquid ammonia but also in water.
“we can observe the blue color of solvated electrons not only when alkali metals are dissolved in liquid ammonia but also in water”
Solvated electrons have extremely short lifetimes in water, making them normally invisible despite their existence; controlling reaction conditions allows them to be observed as blue color despite these microsecond-scale lifetimes.
“observe the significant formation of solvated electrons, visible to the naked eye despite their extremely short lifetime in water”
By creating an inert atmosphere and gently placing a drop of sodium-potassium alloy onto the water's surface (rather than dropping it), the vigorous reaction is controlled and the drop turns bright blue from solvated electrons without exploding.
“if we create an inert atmosphere and gently place a drop onto the water's surface, it will turn bright blue, just like when alkali metals are dissolved in ammonia”
When sodium-potassium alloy is placed in superheated steam (unlike in liquid water), it does not explode, allowing observation of dark blue areas forming from solvated electrons.
“When I put a sodium-potassium alloy into the superheated steam, it doesn't explode. However, you can clearly see dark blue areas forming on the drop.”
The blue color of solvated electrons can also be observed when sodium-potassium alloy interacts with superheated steam, in addition to being observed in water and liquid ammonia.
“the blue color of solvated electrons can be observed when the sodium-potassium alloy interacts with superheated steam”
When a drop of sodium-potassium alloy is placed on water's surface under controlled conditions, the resulting molten hydroxide temporarily stabilizes on the water surface via the Leidenfrost effect before eventually bursting spectacularly once it cools sufficiently.
“After the reaction, a transparent drop of molten hydroxide temporarily stabilizes on the water's surface via the Leidenfrost effect before bursting spectacularly once it cools sufficiently”
Dropping a sodium-potassium alloy from a considerable height into water always results in an instant explosion with sparks of burning metal flying around.
“Dropping a sodium-potassium alloy into water will result in an instant explosion, with sparks of burning metal flying around”
The reaction of sodium-potassium alloy with water produces hydrogen gas, which ignites spontaneously during the vigorous reaction, contributing to the explosive appearance; flushing with inert gas prevents this hydrogen ignition.
“we continuously flush the reaction vessel with inert gas to prevent the ignition of the hydrogen gas formed”
When a sodium-potassium alloy is added to liquid ammonia, the characteristic blue color of solvated electrons is observed, just as with water and steam reactions.
“If we add the resulting potassium-sodium alloy to liquid ammonia, we will observe the characteristic blue color seen in ammonia solutions of alkali metals”
Alkali metals placed in water are always on the brink of exploding due to the vigorous exothermic reaction between the metal and water molecules.
“When alkali metals are placed in water they are always on the brink of exploding”
The inspiration for this demonstration came from findings published in the journal Applied Chemistry regarding solvated electrons in water.
“The inspiration for this video came from an article in the well-known journal, Applied Chemistry. I'll include a link to the article in the description.”
Superheated steam can reach high enough temperatures to ignite a match (demonstrating its thermal energy capacity).
“The steam passing through the coil reaches a high temperature, allowing it to ignite a match. Yes, I managed to light a match with water!”
A sodium-potassium alloy is created by mixing pieces of sodium and potassium in hot oil.
“I'm going to create a sodium-potassium alloy by mixing pieces of sodium and potassium in hot oil to showcase this effect”
In the next video, the speaker will showcase explosive reactions of sodium-potassium alloy with halogens.
“In the next video, I'll showcase some explosive reactions of the sodium-potassium alloy with halogens.”
Previous videos by the speaker showed a moment when one drop of sodium-potassium alloy absorbs another drop, which audience members requested to see in slow motion from different angles.
“In one of my previous videos, where there was a moment when one drop absorbs another, some of you, requested to show it, in slow motion. Well, today I have the opportunity to show you it, from different angles, including slow-motion shots.”
Lithium aluminum hydride is introduced to superheated steam in an attempt to capture stunning footage and extend the video length.
“In this experiment, I introduce lithium aluminum hydride to the superheated steam in the hopes of capturing stunning footage and extending the video's length slightly.”