Watch the explosive reaction of sodium metal in water, captured in mesmerizing slow motion. See the intense chemistry unfold ...

The reaction starts less than a millisecond after the metal droplet, released from a syringe, enters the water. After just 0.4 ms, ‘spikes’ of metal shoot out from the droplet, too fast to be ...

The reaction starts less than a millisecond after the metal droplet, released from a syringe, enters the water. After just 0.4 ms, ‘spikes’ of metal shoot out from the droplet, too fast to be ...

Watch the Reaction This video from Foresti's research shows a reaction between a particle of metal sodium and a water droplet. The two particles start off separately and slowly move toward one ...

This explains the continued robust reaction: the spikes kept placing fresh sodium in contact with the water, preventing the formation of a steam/hydrogen barrier that would choke off the reaction.

VOICEOVER: Acid plus alkali reactions An acid can be neutralised by adding it to an alkali to make a salt and water. Alkalis are most commonly metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide.

The team's simulations indicate that chemical reactions involving water and air could be sped up by drawing the interacting molecules out of the water's bulk environment (meaning, deep into the ...