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Author Topic: Sodium disposal  (Read 793 times)

Balog

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Sodium disposal
« on: September 12, 2014, 12:04:16 PM »
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY7mTCMvpEM

Army had a bunch of huge drums full of sodium after WWII they needed to get rid of. So they set up a camera, had a bunch of guys stand around watching, and dumped them into a lake  :O in E WA. I'm guessing no environmental impact study was done...  >:D
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wmenorr67

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Re: Sodium disposal
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2014, 12:53:27 PM »
Considering the lake was already highly alkali there was nothing there to worry about.
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Re: Sodium disposal
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2014, 12:58:45 PM »
They said Alkali lake devoid of fish.  so it looks like they did some study of how to dispose of it.
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Tallpine

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Re: Sodium disposal
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2014, 01:56:47 PM »
Was this a salt weapon  ???
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charby

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Re: Sodium disposal
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2014, 02:27:41 PM »
Quote from: wmenorr67 on September 12, 2014, 12:53:27 PM
Considering the lake was already highly alkali there was nothing there to worry about.

Yep

Na2O + H2O --> 2 NaOH
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230RN

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Re: Sodium disposal
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2014, 03:37:55 PM »
^
"Na2O + H2O --> 2 NaOH",

Nope.  Elemental metallic sodium.  You forgot the H which is evolved:

Na + H20 ---> NaOH + H

The monatomic hydrogen instantly combines with another monatomic hydrogen to form H2. There may be intermediate reactions,  but that's the long and the short of it, starting from the metallic sodium.

There is a lot of heat involved in this whole process and the gaseous hydrogen ignites, causing the fire.  The reaction is so fast and violent that unless a large heavy chunk of sodium is involved, it will "float" on the water because of the gas generated under it.  The sodium will bounce around on the surface, causing a sizzling noise, unless it is a rather large piece. Like a drop of water on a very hot stove.

Been there, done that.
« Last Edit: September 12, 2014, 04:23:01 PM by 230RN »
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charby

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Re: Sodium disposal
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2014, 05:02:41 PM »
Quote from: 230RN on September 12, 2014, 03:37:55 PM
^
"Na2O + H2O --> 2 NaOH",

Nope.  Elemental metallic sodium.  You forgot the H which is evolved:

Na + H20 ---> NaOH + H

The monatomic hydrogen instantly combines with another monatomic hydrogen to form H2. There may be intermediate reactions,  but that's the long and the short of it, starting from the metallic sodium.

There is a lot of heat involved in this whole process and the gaseous hydrogen ignites, causing the fire.  The reaction is so fast and violent that unless a large heavy chunk of sodium is involved, it will "float" on the water because of the gas generated under it.  The sodium will bounce around on the surface, causing a sizzling noise, unless it is a rather large piece. Like a drop of water on a very hot stove.

Been there, done that.


 :facepalm:  Duh I need to slow down before I post sometimes.. 

I've got to witness separate events of Potassium and Rubidium dumped into water.
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Firethorn

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Re: Sodium disposal
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2014, 08:01:24 PM »
Having watch the film and checked the chemistry(yep, forms sodium hydroxide), I couldn't help but think they should have found an acidic lake to dump it into - bring the pH closer to neutral so life fish could live there.

Of course, the reaction would actually be MORE energetic in that case, so increase the stand off distance.
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