The disposal of drums of sodium into Lake Lenore, an alkaline lake in the Grand Coulee area of eastern Washington State, in 1947 by the War Assets Administration.

One of the strongest exothermic (heat releasing) chemical reaction occurs when pure sodium and water come into contact. As these two substances react, sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas are formed. The exothermic nature of the reaction causes the hydrogen to catch fire and burn..

Download a copy of this clip for use in teaching and training (nonprofit use only) by clicking on the link, Download my OSH clips, in my Links list to the left.

This clip is one of more than eight hundred posted to my YouTube channel, Workplace and Environmental Health and Safety Films, http://www.youtube.com/user/markdcatlin .

This clip is from a January 13, 1947 newsreel available at the Internet Archive.

Check out this clip from the Periodic Table of Videos on YouTube for basic information on sodium (and to watch small amounts of sodium react with water):