why does sodium releases electrons when comes in contact with water
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The periodic table is organized based off of the “personality” of each element. Group 18 the (last column)represents the noble gases. The elements in this group are the popular kids. Everybody wants to be them because they are known to be the most stable elements.
Elemental sodium is in group 1 (the first column) Known for their reactivity because they have one too many electrons. Sodium really actually wants to be Neon. To fit in it likes to give up 1 electron taking on its ionic form Na+. When placed in a solution of water which can be reactive due to its polarity. The free electron reacts with the hydrogen. This creates hydrogen gas which is highly explosive
Atoms have an outer electron shell. This shell typically is its most stable when it contains 8 electrons.
Sodium naturally contains just one electron, so the best way for it to reach a full shell is to lose that one electron. This makes the shell underneath the “new outer shell”, and it has a full 8 electrons.
Water is happy to take that electron and shed a hydrogen atom as it pairs with the newly-formed sodium ion.
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