Question

1.why is it that ammonia can solvate the electron given by Na? how does it do this.

2. why is it that Na is explosive with water but not in ethanol when in both solvents the product is hydrogen?

3. Why cant ethanol or whatever solvate the electron like ammonia does?

please give a detailed explanation.

Answer 1

Answer 1):

• Na loses one electron to attain the stable noble gas configuration.
• The ammonia solvate the electron by forming solvation spheres around it.
• The blue color obtained is due to the ammoniated electron.

Answer 2):

• When Na comes in contact with water, it produces NaOH and Hydrogen gas.
• This reaction is explosive since it is highly exothermic, that is, high amount of heat is given out.
• Due to this the Hygrogen gas is released violently which may lead to explosion.
• When dissolved in ethanol, the reaction is very slow and is not highly exothermic.
• Since very less amount of hydrogen gas is formed and the heat energy is not high enough, the reaction is not explosive.

Answer 3):

• Any solvent that gives outer-sphere electron transfer, can solvate an electron.
• Even water and ethanol can solvate electrons in solution.
• However, the focus is ammonia as the solvation is highly favoured based on energetics of the outer spher electron transfer.
• An acid-base pair is formed between solvated electron and atomic hydrogen.

Thank You!