Published on August 25, 2017
Caesium in Water – part of our “Berzelius Day” uploading 24 videos in 24 hours. Full video containing this reaction at:
NOTE FROM THE PROFESSOR: The reaction is 2Cs + 2H2O → 2CsOH + H2. However, the H2 can then react with O2 in the air to explode. Also, unlike the other alkali metals, except perhaps Francium, Cs is a liquid just above room temperature so the initial heat of reaction will melt the metal and one has liquid metal reacting with the water.
See our 24 reactions playlist as it unfolds at:
Berzelius Day explained:
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From the School of Chemistry at The University of Nottingham:
Periodic Videos films are by video journalist Brady Haran
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