• Question: Why does lithium explode in water

    Asked by paulfee1 to Cathal, Ciara, Emma, Michael, Sive on 13 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Michael Nolan

      Michael Nolan answered on 13 Nov 2013:

      Hi Paul,

      Lithium has one electron in its outer shell so it wants to give it away to another element and it really wants to do that.
      So when you put Li into water the electron released by Li attacks that water (h2o) breaking it up and producing hydrogen gas (h2) and oxygen that reacts with Li to make lithium oxide.
      There is a massive amount of energy released as Li reacts with water and this gets to a point where there is so much energy, and the hydrogen produced also burns, that is acts like an explosive and boom!

      M

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