Advertisement

spaceSpace and Physicsspacechemistry

This Is What Happens If You Flush Sodium Down The Toilet

author

Tom Hale

author

Tom Hale

Senior Journalist

Tom is a writer in London with a Master's degree in Journalism whose editorial work covers anything from health and the environment to technology and archaeology.

Senior Journalist

clockPublished

Inspired by the YouTube channels "Will It Crush?" and Blendtec’s "Will It Blend?", Grant Thompson is here to ask the next big question: “Will it flush?” He enlisted the help of Cody’s Lab (the guys who flushed mercury down a toilet) to see what happens if you try to flush a block of sodium down the toilet.

Sodium metal is near-white in color and flexible, so it’s perhaps not what you’d expect when you think of a metal. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most reactive metals in the periodic table after potassium, caesium, francium, and rubidium. Like all of these alkali metals, it creates a pretty violent exothermic reaction when added to water. In other words, an explosive heat-producing bang.

Advertisement

Remember, don't try this at home – calling a plumber at short notice can cost a ton.


ARTICLE POSTED IN

spaceSpace and Physicsspacechemistry
  • tag
  • video,

  • chemistry,

  • explosion,

  • chemical reaction,

  • metal,

  • sodium,

  • alkali metal,

  • reactive

FOLLOW ONNEWSGoogele News