Sodium-Potassium Alloy: Blue Solvated Electrons in Water!

[@Muonium1]

Hi Feliks, beautiful exposition as always. However, it is worth noting that you are actually witnessing something *even more rare and exotic here* than the blue color of solvated electrons - in fact, you are also seeing the violet color of pure sodium gas. If you go to 5:00 in the video you can notice the violet color is not "adhered" to the surface of the metal droplet in the way the solvated electrons are, but rather floats around along with the droplet like a foggy haze. The vapor of potassium is green and that of sodium is violet for the same reason the vapor of iodine is colored, it exists as a homonuclear diatomic gas of Na2, and the electronic states of the molecule are vibronically coupled to the vibrational modes of the two atoms comprising the molecule, causing a multitude of regularly spaced absorption peaks throughout the visible region of the spectrum. Like iodine vapor, it should also fluoresce when irradiated with high energy light!!

[@pattheplanter]

The paper mentioned "part of the metal evaporated". Can you explain the orange swirls in the droplet as the molten hydroxide/metal gets clearer before becoming pure sodium hydroxide?

[@Muonium1]

@@pattheplanter haven't the slightest idea, but if I had to guess I'd say something to do with the shifting absorption band wavelengths with respect to temperature as seen on the combined spectral plots near the end.

[@aretorta]

@@pattheplanter I was thinking about this too. After some thought I speculate that it is the last bits of metal dissolved in the hydroxide. You can see that, as soon as the swirls appear, transparent orange appears right next to opaque blue. That indicates to me the it's not due to the droplet being red hot, but rather the last bits of sodium and potassium (maybe in clusters???).

[@XxRedCooperxX]

Couldn't it be blackbody radiation? NaK has a boiling point of 785C, which is well into the orange range. It's basically just red-hot metal because its been kept from blowing itself apart and continued to react with the surface. I bet if you look at other videos of alkali metals getting thrown in water, you'd see orange globs of molten metal skittering across the surface due to the leidenfrost effect as well

[@Muonium1]

@@XxRedCooperxX I believe that if it were above the Draper point of 525C the view of the internal swirling blue solvated electrons would be obscured. I have seen these spheres incandescently glowing in other videos though. A simple test would be to turn out the lights while recording!

[@sbreheny]

Awesome! Just wanted to make clear for your viewers that "liquid ammonia" here means cryogenic anhydrous ammonia, NOT ammonia dissolved in water (which is what household ammonia is). The NaK would explode on contact with the ammonia water.

[@niji4894]

So its not piss...?

[@Arycke]

​@niji4894 piss isn't just ammonia, but, yes, it's not pịss. Average, healthy adult urine contains around 1 mg/L ammonia.

[@niji4894]

@@Arycke i meant that as a joke. My bad if that didn't get through.

[@Arycke]

@niji4894 no apologies necessary! I didn't know if it was a joke or not, haha. I just figured I'd answer nonetheless cx

[@ProjectPhysX]

I've first seen solvated electrons on Thunderf00t's channel. Your slow motion shots are fantastic as always! Amazing to see this phenomenon in such great detail. Thanks for the video!

[@TheThinkEat]

The paper he shows is from philip mason witch is no other than thunderfoot ;)

[@ProjectPhysX]

@@dedr4m yes he discovered the Coulomb explosion and did a lot of the research NaK! Yeah, science!

[@wowplayer160]

I remember when thunderfoot used to be good. Now he's just shit.

[@roderik1990]

Honestly wish he did more of the cool science stuff, instead of the reactionary opinionated stuff he often brings out these days.

[@randygault4564]

"reactionary" is a word without a meaning. Everyone's opinions are, by definition, reactions.

[@BertNielson]

This was such a neat phenomenon when Dr. Mason published it. So cool to see the work being recreated by another fabulous KZbin chemist. Thank you!

[@jimsvideos7201]

I knew of NaK from an amateur interest in nuclear energy, but seeing it with ammonia and steam was new! Thank you for putting your cameras in harm's way to get this!

[@BackYardScience2000]

God I love Sodium and Potassium! Two of the coolest elements, in my opinion. Especially when mixed together and in large amounts.

[@jpolowin0]

That's really nifty stuff. The slow-mo oscillations of the drops as they merge is fascinating, as is the brief appearance of the blue colour.

[@therealtime-o]

You are the best in making Videos of chemical reactions. I love your Videos, thank you.

[@mariodistefano2973]

Hi Feliks, really asthonishing footage! @2:20 I think it's one of our best "simulation" of what happens when two black holes / neutron stars / stars collide, collapse and finally merge in a single entity! Congratulations! *FANTASTIC* !!!

[@giyahan8840]

Awesome. I remember a time when finding footage of this experiment on the internet was hard to come by. It's so cool seeing more and more papers (and subsequent footage) of this effect-and all the little details people are now studying/writing about/experimenting with

[@j_sum1]

Lay a piece of filter paper across a petri dish full of water so that it becomes wet. Drop a small piece of sodium on top. You will see many of the same effects including the solvated electron blue colour, spontaneous ignition and a clear bead of hydroxide that later explodes. Simple and illustrative.

[@TheOpticalFreak]

This is wonderful!! 🤩 Even Thunderfoot and Periodic videos didn't know what this effect was when the droplets turned transparent!! 😁👍 you did it!! 😃😄🎉

[@At0mix]

I read in a paper that at very high concentrations solvated electrons start to behave like a metal, switching the color from blue to gold. Do you reckon that's what we're seeing when the NaK droplet hits the ammonia at 3:15?

[@pyropulseIXXI]

Makes sense, since a metal is an 'electron sea.'

[@AureliusR]

If you want to see the beautiful colour it makes, check out Applied Science's videos on distilling ammonia. He dissolved a bunch of lithium metal, and it turned this beautiful metallic bronze colour in the test tube!

[@jamescrawford1534]

I love the blues that come from oxidation and reactions. My first 'experience' seeing it was as a welder when drilling mild steel would create blue chips and strands. Seeing that reminds me if the colour.

[@MinusMedley]

The slow mo shots are a testament to the relation of gravity and surface tension.

[@me0101001000]

You sure have a NaK for these things, don't you? Hah, get it? Knack? NaK? Okay, I'll stop...

[@kahe7436]

😅😅😂

[@ian5395]

Knack nak, who's there?

[@steadycruisin619]

That was good! Don’t stop! 😂

[@TheOpticalFreak]

Get out! 👉

[@dwaynezilla]

I thought "should I make a chemistry joke?" But then I thought "Na"

[@johngilbert184]

Video photograph - outstanding. Experimental design - outstanding. Concept - outstanding. Must win some award! Going back on my Patreon support list. Thank you.

[@ChemicalForce]

Welcome back! :D

[@srideepprasad]

Hands down the most cinematic chemistry channel on KZbin.A perfect amalgamation of visual art and science. I’ve been hooked ever since I saw the cold phosphorus flame video which was a cinematographic masterpiece.

[@bassmaster9781]

The slowmotion is WOW just WOW. Theres a lot to lurn from that! Thank you!

[@Psychx_]

These blobs of liquid metal have quite the surface tension. I've only worked with gallium-based liquid metal alloys for electronics cooling before, but they seem to have very similar physical properties.

[@Simonjose7258]

These videos are so enthralling that I'm always half-way through before realizing that I'm watching at 480 and I have to turn up the quality tobwatch it again.

[@jesscorbin5981]

I knew, but I got to see more!

[@ph08nyx]

Капля расплавленного гидроксида на поверхности воды, как бы наполненная оранжевым дымом, постепенно становящаяся прозрачной - это одно из самых красивы вещей, которые я видел!

[@JohnLeePettimoreIII]

ThoiSoi and Thunderf00t have both pursued many experiments with Na, K, and NaK. these elements are endlessly fascinating and i hope the chemistry community never stops experimenting with them.

[@roriegilligan8134]

The second guy you mentioned is the first author of the paper linked in the description.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

The main author of the paper he's referring to is Phillip E Mason. a.k.a. Thunderf00t. It's great to see so many KZbinrs now picking up on it.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

@@roriegilligan8134 Wow youTube didn't show me your comment before I typed mine. Glad there's a few of us who noticed!

[@worldtraveler930]

After watching this video I can't help but think this fella must have the ability to make some truly exotic and outright Kick Ass lava lamps!!! 🤠👍

[@FhtagnCthulhu]

This was a great one! A very unique spin on the original solvated electron demonstration.

[@science_and_anonymous]

Thunderf00t did some incredible work with this phenomenon and is an expert on alkali metals.

[@pyr0duck676]

This is an active area of my research! Glad to see it featured on this channel!

[@tjpprojects7192]

Genie, "You have three wishes" Rando, "I wish to be able to eat sodium and potassium without them exploding" Genie, "You have three wishes"

[@spenny3403]

I love it thanks!! I always love watching sodium and potassium getting cut like butter before inevitable explosions! But I've never seen it turn blue like that, that was amazing with the slow motion!

[@drecknathmagladery9118]

bubbles coming together is so cool in slow motion never expected it to quite literaly be like mitosis in reverse that is wild

[@Judsonator]

Another wonderful CF video. And always educational. Had no idea you could do this with water!

[@davidgailinas8979]

6:40 That gave me a chuckle. Honest man.

[@noscreadur]

The slo-mo shots are amazing; like real computer graphics!

[@ILikeToSayCaKaw]

I had seen drops of alkalai metals turning colorless before popping on the surface of water and had wondered what was going on there. Hydroxide droplets make perfect sense!

[@drayen667]

This video really bring out the beauty in chemistry. You sir are a scholar and an artist!

[@jrersinghaus]

Oh you have just given me the most amazing ideas for analysis on this!!! Fantastic work!!!!!!

[@HingleMacCringleberry]

I'm shocked your channel doesn't have more subscribers considering how amazing your work is.

[@ignilc]

thunderfoot also explored these phenomena. though you didn't explain why might me the reasons the NaK alloy seems to turn transparent before exploding. Fantastic video!

[@CreamusG]

It seems so obvious to me now that water would produce these results too since ammonia does, but I genuinely did not even consider for a second this was possible. Awesome :D

[@MBroam]

the slow mo footage of the droplets merging was fantastic!

[@crabsaresilly8317]

Raindroplets and hot water meter

[@fano72]

The blue vapour around the nak ball in water is not from this world. Fascinating!

[@zachreyhelmberger894]

WoW!! Nice super closeup at the end with the steam.

[@benruniko]

I imagine if we could see atoms reacting and forming bonds with our eyes it would look like those beautiful slow motion shots of the NaK balls merging. Great camera work!!

[@fraserbuilds]

such beautiful footage! i had no idea water could solvate electrons this way. such a fascinating phenomenon.

[@MrRedeyedJedi]

I remember dr Phil Mason doing this last year and its amazing seeing solvated eletrons

[@mcdubstrizzle]

That same blue color appears as potassium slowly cools in the presence of a long chain tertiary alcohol. Tetrahydrolinalool and dihydromyrcenol both work. It may just be a refractory thing on the surface of semi-molten potassium, but if that's the case it is a very convincing imitation. The presence of lithium metal makes it happen more consistently, though molten lithium does some really strange things to mineral oil.

[@popescucristian8978]

0:43 can i have some forbidden cream cheese 🤤

[@SSS333-AAA]

Tasty

[@thommyneter]

Really cool! I always had the idea that they would be more light blue like lightning or the Cherenkov radiation blue color

[@SuperAngelofglory]

One of the best chemistry experiments ever recorded

[@bertarissen6568]

I regularly make NaK for my students and they are always impressed by the reactivity. So it seems contradictory to use it as coolant in nuclear reactors, yet it is done, because of it’s thermal conductivity and fluidity at room temperature.

[@janewray-mccann2133]

It appears that not to many of you chemists out there are aware that all humans have around 5 milligrams of sodium and potassium contained in a little pea sized sack called the sino atrial valve. It is found on the left side of your heart and it provides the O.01 voltage that provides the electrical energy needed to operate your heart and brain. Great video Felix, Rory, Tasmania.

[@barry_g8443]

Absolutely amazing experiments...how do you even imagine lighting a match with water... Brilliant!

[@decepticonne]

i dont work in labs anymore so this is the closest ill probably ever get to witnessing electric blue. and it's beautiful! tysm

[@christopherleubner6633]

Breathtakingly beautiful reactions. Highly recommend this to chemistry teachers 🤓❤

[@menjolno]

I also highly recommend this to common core 🤓🤓🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@crabsaresilly8317]

@@menjolnonerrrrrrrrrr

[@JuanHernandez-ig5cd]

Those shots where stunning

[@MRblazedBEANS]

Never seen the ammonia "reaction" soooo cool!

[@siyuyangzhang6995]

Great job! Thanks for making this video.

[@chemistry-experiments78]

Footage of you cutting alkali metals is oddly satisfying!

[@OuroborosMotorbike]

That could be the coolest thing I've ever seen filmed!

[@crabsaresilly8317]

dangerous light sparks

[@TheHuntermj]

It's mesmerizing watching a coulombic explosion in slow motion as all it's protective electrons bleed away instead of detonating and the final naked Sodium/Potassium mix reacts all at once with the water.

[@PaulSteMarie]

Very cool! I knew about alkali metals displaying in ammonia and releasing free electrons, but not water.

[@cpchehaibar]

Hi! With your videos I can click thumbs-up before watching and I won't be disappointed.

[@leucurus5057]

3:30 this really puts a whole new definition to "electric blue"

[@Astrofrank]

Spectacular slow motion!

[@JeremiahHalpin]

Electron blue. Beautiful color.

[@danwhite3224]

Wow, I've never seen this experiment before but it looks incredible

[@crabsaresilly8317]

Would you consider leaving on a red cloth table lamp in the bedroom and a tubular vintage oval bulb lamp in the office, and seeing which type of bulb burns out first, doing an experiment?

[@JamesBakerOhio]

Aware yes, able to fully appreciate its beauty, not until now. Very nice 👌

[@emilydolcett2238]

I have heard of it before but never seen such good video work on it

[@MrKarlGP]

I remember seeing an old Open University demonstration where Sodium metal was dissolved in liquefied Ammonia gas producing the intense dark inky blue of solvated electrons, then a cyclic crown ether was added to clathrate half of the Sodium cations, resulting in an ionic complex obtainable as a golden crystalline solid when the ammonia was evaporated, a sort of sodium salt of itself.

[@alllove1754]

I enjoyed the blue cloud of electrons you got there on the water

[@hasanx8317]

Wow ... Magnificent... Praised is the best of creators!

[@marghea4008]

I love studying chemistry, because sometimes it's more like "look at all these materials, techniques, compouds etc that revolutionised our lives" and other times it's like "look at this cool blue solution i made, isn't it neat :)"

[@crabsaresilly8317]

Would you consider leaving on a red cloth regular table lamp in the bedroom and a tubular vintage oval bulb desk lamp in the office, and seeing which type of bulb burns out first after a while, "doing an experiment" ? ., ;

[@theemissary1313]

Periodic table of videos made a video of electrons in a similar solution of sodium in super cooled ammonia (?) which looked cool. Great seeing different versions of this though, and the high speed amalgamation of bubbles of the NaK.

[@jonpopelka]

Cool chemistry aside, watching those alloy blobs merge was frickin DECENT

[@Fish-ub3wn]

i knew e- are blue but never seen such beautiful footage

[@Bubu567]

The color depends on the concentration. The color shifts from a blue, to bronze gold color, depending on the concentration of solvated electrons. The reason for the specific color is unknown, but is seen in all examples of proven solvated electron reactions.

[@demoaccount2392]

4:52 Hydrogen won't be able to ignite as there will be no oxygen in the chamber.......right?

[@br6768]

Coolest science video I've seen in a while

[@AureliusR]

I knew of this phenomenon because of Applied Science's video about liquid ammonia. He dissolved lithium metal into a test tube of it, and at first it was blue like yours because of the solvated electrons. But then it turned this absolutely BEAUTIFUL metallic bronze colour. Apparently these solvated electron solutions are excellent conductors, which makes sense, but I'd like to see someone actually pass a current through it and measure the voltage drop. Would be interesting to see what class of conductor it is. Wouldn't be a superconductor but probably so conductive it's be hard to measure.

[@scottybadmoon3857]

That last 1 in space. Steam n sodium metal. Super heated. It thermal dynamics in a nutshell. Bonkers Kool...seabeck effect.

[@TheWrestlingFam]

Did anyone else notice the refractive index matching between the mineral oil and the glass stir rod? The glass stir rod looked like it disappeared! How cool

[@robertlapointe4093]

I have heard of this effect before with water (I think from one of Phil Mason's videos) and have seen the ammonia version first hand (along with bronze-phase Na/NH3). The slow motion of the NaK drops coalescing was great. I wonder if the beating heart experiment (mercury, iron nail, sulfuric acid and an oxidizer in a watch glass) would look as interesting in slow mo?

[@sootikins]

Did you notice that Phil is lead author of the paper shown in this video?

[@neverendinghobbies]

Thag slowmo footage of the balls combining was super cool

[@ionutsfetcu4550]

It seems that’s how bodies in the cosmos behave.that’s amazing.being smart is cool.

[@Swaaaat1]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! THUNDERF00T BABYYYYYYYYYYYY YEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!

[@lajoswinkler]

Mind that there is some blue vapor coming off, as well, which isn't solvated electrons. Gaseous sodium is green or violet, depending on the temperature. Addition of potassium (which is violet or blue in gaseous state) perhaps creates an azeotrope with unique energy levels, creating blue color.

[@NigelTolley]

Quite beautifully composed!

[@WillTellU]

yup, thunderfoot's paper. We all knew alkaline metals go boom, but now we know why and much more!

[@Splarkszter]

Truñy amazing, one of the most awesome things i've seen.

[@drhaese]

The beauty of chemistry at work.

[@Gargamoth]

That is so alien looking. It could actually be in a movie scene for the next scifi film

[@HiwasseeRiver]

A company called Teledyne-Commodore used sodium-NH3 solvated electron back in the 90's and early '00's. I worked for them. You can look up the applications and details. The chemical reduction process was paired with a high pressure cutting jet that used liquid NH3 to cut into objects to obtain chemical materials that were to be reacted with the solvated electron solution.

[@reneceulemans]

Thank you so much for these mindblowing pictures.

[@crabsaresilly8317]

True lamp vs balance vus

[@danieloskarsson]

I love these productions. You make it really beautiful.

[@crabsaresilly8317]

As i turn up a pottuh gold I'm feelin a little cold

[@berukadehikari2634]

Seeing how the liquid blobs combine, I wonder if it's possible to make a NaK lava lamp. Maybe with a clear inert liquid with a similar density to NaK and sealing it in glass container filled with argon.

[@theodorebreedlove8419]

Can you isolate the transparent sodium potassium before it explodes and cool it in liquid nitrogen? Or in mineral oil?

[@michaelperrone3867]

What's the red-brown color from right before the drop explodes? a metal-insulator transition?

[@guaranteedtopwn]

best chemical reaction videos by far

[@crabsaresilly8317]

I loooooooooooooove running stop signs

[@callmeadmin]

Blue light was observed when Sodium had coulumbic explosion in the water. It was done slow mo and was visible. I saw that video around 5y ago. And I was surprised, as in the school we were teached that sodium explosion in the water occurs because of hydrogen explodes. But in reality explosion happens because water steals electrons from sodium and sodium atoms can not hold together because of electric field is forcing sodium ions apart. Experiment was done in inert gas environment, so there is nor possibility for hydrogen to react. But sodium exploded anyways.