When sodium reacts with water, it produces a vigorous chemical reaction that releases hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) . The reaction is as follows:
2 Na (s) + 2 H2O (l) → 2 NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)
The reaction is highly exothermic, meaning it releases a lot of energy in the form of heat. The reaction happens so quickly because the electrons given up by sodium start to combine with hydrogen ions, creating even more "fuel" for the sodium to react with. The reaction can be violent enough to produce flames and explosions. The reason for this is due to the quantum interactions between the metal and the water molecules. However, sodium chloride simply dissolves in water, and chlorine acts as a disinfectant when dropped into water.
