Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Metallic sodium without electric current

Anders Hoveland - 16-6-2010 at 12:02

Actually sodium azide decomposes to metallic sodium and nitrogen when heated. Na3N is not very stable because Na will not form covalent bond with nitrogen, and true nitride ions have low thermal stability because the N atom is too small for 3 extra electrons repelling eachother. Lithium and magnesium, but not sodium, will burn in nitrogen. Aluminum will not burn either, but in that case it is because it is not reactive enough, Aluminum will burn hot in pure oxygen, however. Sodium azide can be made by heating sodium amide and nitrous acid solution, or NaNO2 and hydrazine. Danger: NaN3 in water easily partially hydrolyzes into HN3 gas which is very poisonous, like cyanide. Also AgNO3 solution and NH4OH left standing for a while or lightly warmed will precipitate some AgN3 explosive at the bottom. Adding thiosulfate to AgN3 will put the solid back into solution.

not_important - 16-6-2010 at 13:34

starting back in 2003

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=2105

htts://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=802

back in 2004
Quote:
For example, iron displaces the alkali metal sulfates and arsenates at their melting point, from thiocyanates at 650C, from borates and phosphates at 1300-1400C.... Alkali metal compounds such as hexacyanoferrates(II), cyanides, and azides can be decomposed into the alkali metal by heating.

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=1974

Back in 2006 this thread http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=6586 linked to this paper http://www.jstor.org/pss/98711

And Len mentioned the fact at the start of the sodium prep thread you originally dumped this in, making that post both redundant and off topic.

The explosive silver compound has been mention and discussed a number of times in the past. If you have any new wisdom to impart you might wish to do so in one of those threads.

Now which is easier for a hobbyist to get - lye, stainless steel, and electricity, or NaN3? How to make NaN3 has been covered several times in the past, so there's no need to spell out the ways to do so.

It's been years since I've seen such a bursting forth of Christmas Modem Syndrome, perhaps it has something to do with the end of the school year?



condennnsa - 19-6-2010 at 23:45

The easiest way of making metallic sodium by the home chemist is by mixing NaOH and magnesium powders and igniting the mixture, preferably in a closed container to control the sodium burning afterwards.
2Mg + 2NaOH = 2MgO + 2Na + H2

The sodium however is of a terrible purity, but good enough for adding to water demonstrations and such.

Have a look at this website:
http://www.grassrootsdiy.com/sodium.htm