Question

Sodium is stored by keeping it immersed in:
A. Air
B. Water
C. Ammonia
D. Kerosene oil

Answer 1

Hint: Sodium is a chemical element represented by the symbol Na and has atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white and highly reactive metal. It is kept in the category of alkali metal and placed in the 1st group of the periodic table.

Complete answer:
Sodium is not kept freely in nature and prepared from compounds and it is known as the 6th abundant element in earth’s crust and also exists in a number of minerals like feldspars, sodalite and rock salt. Most of the sodium salts are highly soluble in water. Sodium is an essential element for all animals and plants. Sodium metal is the metal which can be easily cut with a knife and it is a good conductor of electricity and heat this can be explained by the fact that only one electron is present in its valence shell which results in weak metallic bonding and free electrons which carry energy.
Sodium is a highly reactive metal and it can react vigorously with the oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture present in the air and it may even cause a fire. To prevent this explosive reaction Sodium metal is kept immersed in kerosene because Sodium does not react with kerosene.

Hence option D is the correct answer.

Note:
There are major uses of sodium metal like sodium chloride is used as common salt, sodium bicarbonate is used as baking agent and sodium hydride is used as a base for various reactions in organic chemistry.