Reactivity Documentation
Bases, Weak |
mixed with |
Metals, Alkali, Very Active |
Summary
- Flammable: Reaction products may be flammable
- Generates gas: Reaction liberates gaseous products and may cause pressurization
- Generates heat: Exothermic reaction at ambient temperatures (releases heat)
-
May produce the following gases:
- Hydrogen
Details
Reactivity Predictions (for each pair of reactive groups)
Bases, Weak
Hazard Predictions
- Flammable: Reaction products may be flammable
- Generates gas: Reaction liberates gaseous products and may cause pressurization
- Generates heat: Exothermic reaction at ambient temperatures (releases heat)
Solutions of alkali metals in liquid ammonia are powerful reducing agents ("solvated electrons") that slowly decompose to form hydrogen gas and strongly basic amide salts, which precipitate out of solution. Sodium amide can also be formed by the reaction of sodium metal with ammonia vapor (Eggeman, T. 2007. Sodium and Sodium Alloys. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (Online); Lange, L. and Triebel, W. 2000. Sodium Amide. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. (Online); Dickinson, F. 1961. Mellor's Comprehensive Treatise on Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry. Vol. 2, Supplement 2, p. 72, 76. Longmans, Green and Co Ltd.; Eggeman, T. 2010. Ammonia. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (Online); Appl, M. 2006. Ammonia. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. (Online); Pascal, P. 1966. Nouveau Traité de Chimie Minérale. Vol. 2, Part 1, p. 13. Masson et Cie.).
Hydroxylamine ignites on contact with sodium to form strongly basic N-sodium hydroxylamide and flammable hydrogen gas (Mellor, J. P. 1940, Mellor's Comprehensive Treatise on Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry. Vol. 8, p. 292. Longmans, Green and Co Ltd.; Bretherick, L. 1996. Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards. Vol. 1, p. 1559. Fifth Ed. Urben, P.G., Ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, MA.).
Potential Gas Byproducts
- Hydrogen (H2)