m1tanker78
National Hazard
Posts: 685
Registered: 5-1-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Sodium - Random Crystal Arrangement
Hopefully someone can help me out with this:
I cut a piece of sodium metal, let it oxidize in air for a short time and then drop it back in the oil. After a short time, random (planar)
crystalline formations begin to appear at the fresh cut surface; never fails. They slightly resemble the patterns that are seen on hot-dip galvanized
iron, for example.
Below are a couple of pictures and a link to a short video. So how is it that these crystals form and why?
Hmm, well the video looks like shit but here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKrKFZLe8Fg
Tom
|
|
|
bob800
Hazard to Others
Posts: 240
Registered: 28-7-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
I know this doesn't really answer your question, but this effect was also noted of woelen's potassium-production write-up:
http://woelen.homescience.net/science/chem/exps/synthesis_K/...
If you scroll 3/4 down the page, you'll see a photo with somewhat similar effects.
|
|
|
mr.crow
National Hazard
Posts: 884
Registered: 9-9-2009
Location: Canada
Member Is Offline
Mood: 0xFF
|
|
Very nice, my sodium does that too. This is common with metals. Here is another example with Lead.
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble
|
|
|
m1tanker78
National Hazard
Posts: 685
Registered: 5-1-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Thanks for the link mr. crow. That's exactly what I was looking for.
Tom
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
