Yes, I expect you have seen the sodium before, but I still find it fascinating to see a metal being stored under oil and cut with a knife. Teacher then opens the bottle, using forceps takes out a piece of sodium, places the sodium on a watch glass, and cuts a pea size bit of sodium with the knife, showing this procedure to the class. Now I will add the sodium to the water in this beaker. Note the order of events.- Write your observations. Write an equation.
Teacher lists the observations being careful to note changes in substance and heat.
Let me show you another reaction involving water and a metal. This time the metal is common iron in the form of iron wool. Let me show you the reaction. While I put the apparatus together, you will diagram the apparatus in your notebook. The reduction of iron oxide with steam involves previously gathering a steel pipe and bending the glass tubing as diagrammed.