Coulomb explosion during the early stages of the reaction of alkali metals with water

Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61388963%3A_____%2F15%3A00443646" target="_blank" >RIV/61388963:_____/15:00443646 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NCHEM.2161" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NCHEM.2161</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NCHEM.2161" target="_blank" >10.1038/NCHEM.2161</a>

Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Coulomb explosion during the early stages of the reaction of alkali metals with water
Original language description
Alkali metals can react explosively with water and it is textbook knowledge that this vigorous behaviour results from heat release, steam formation and ignition of the hydrogen gas that is produced. Here we suggest that the initial process enabling the alkali metal explosion in water is, however, of a completely different nature. High-speed camera imaging of liquid drops of a sodium/potassium alloy in water reveals submillisecond formation of metal spikes that protrude from the surface of the drop. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that on immersion in water there is an almost immediate release of electrons from the metal surface. The system thus quickly reaches the Rayleigh instability limit, which leads to a 'coulomb explosion' of the alkalimetal drop. Consequently, a new metal surface in contact with water is formed, which explains why the reaction does not become self-quenched by its products, but can rather lead to explosive behaviour.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Type
J<sub>x</sub> - Unclassified - Peer-reviewed scientific article (Jimp, Jsc and Jost)
CEP classification
CF - Physical chemistry and theoretical chemistry
OECD FORD branch
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Project
<a href="/en/project/GBP208%2F12%2FG016" target="_blank" >GBP208/12/G016: Controlling structure and function of biomolecules at the molecular scale: theory meets experiment</a><br>
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year
2015
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

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