If NaCl dissociates in water, why doesn’t the sodium react with the water?
In: Chemistry
It does react with the water. However the amount of energy released in a chemical reaction is based on the amount of chemical energy in the old chemical compared to the new one. As sodium metal have very much chemical energy and sodium cloride have very little chemical energy you get very different energy out of their reactions with water even though the end result is the same.
In order to react, the sodium ion (Na+) would need to break apart the water molecule but the bond between the oxygen and hydrogen in water is stronger than the “pull” of Na+
Because Na ions are created, not normal Na atoms. They don’t react the same way and can safely float around
Latest Answers