In this lab notes videos we successfully prevent the glassware from becoming damaged during the alcohol catalyzed magnesium reduction process for making sodium.

It turns out water might be the primary trigger for the glassware degradation. So the sodium hydroxide was stirred with molten sodium for a few hours to thoroughly react away all the water and dry it out. Then the sodium production react was performed as usual.

This time the glassware survived the reaction without visible damage. An additional bonus was the yield was considerably higher at 96%. It seems the glassware destruction introduced impurities that considerably lowered yield. Elimination of the destruction pathway allowed all the reactants to be used.


Related Videos:
Previous lab notes on making sodium:    • Lab Notes July 24th  Optimizing sodi...  

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