When sodium reacts with water, it undergoes a very vigorous reaction. This means that the reaction is very fast and produces a lot of energy. The products that are formed during this reaction are sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H2).
Let's break down the reaction step by step:
1. Sodium (Na) is a highly reactive metal. When it is placed in water (H2O), it reacts with the water molecules.
2. The sodium atom loses an electron, becoming a positively charged sodium ion (Na+). This electron is transferred to a water molecule, causing it to split apart.
3. The water molecule (H2O) is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The hydrogen ions (H+) from the water combine with the remaining electron to form hydrogen gas (H2).
4. The remaining hydroxide ions (OH-) from the water combine with the sodium ions (Na+) to form sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
In summary, when sodium reacts with water, it produces sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H2). Therefore, the correct answer is sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H2).