Re: Why does sodium (Na) and water (H2O) react with fire/smoke?

Date: Mon Feb 26 16:28:14 2001
Posted By: Peter Traill, Undergraduate, Chemistry, University of Dundee
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 983139987.Ch

Message:

Dear Heather,

The differences in reactivity are because of the differences in the number of electrons in the atoms, sodium has the least number of electrons of the metals you mentioned, so it reacts the most. Calcium and Magnesium have more electrons and so have a lesser reactivity. Look at this answer from the archives too: 858001325.Ch

hope this clears this up. yours sincerly

Peter Traill

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