Polo G40 Sodium filled exhaust valves --- Myth ?

[Karlos the jackyl]

I've always wondered if it was true so ....

On a mass clearing mission I stumbled accros some old G40 exhaust valves and cut one in half using a grinder.

It was obvious these were hollow stems , but tipping them upside down revealed no traces of sodium.

I abandoned the valves and left them on the pavement about 30 mins later I could hear spitting noticed the valves were bubbling over

I can only assume the heat from the sun caused the sodium to react in such a way

[Yoof]

I've always wondered if it was true so ....

On a mass clearing mission I stumbled accros some old G40 exhaust valves and cut one in half using a grinder.

It was obvious these were hollow stems , but tipping them upside down revealed no traces of sodium.

I abandoned the valves and left them on the pavement about 30 mins later I could hear spitting noticed the valves were bubbling over

I can only assume the heat from the sun caused the sodium to react in such a way


Myth Busted!

It's solid at room temp- so would be one large lump at the bottom of the valve... hence not coming out.

I'm no chemist, but I'd guess it's reaction with water vapour in the air produces gas (sodium hydroxide) and gas (hydrogen)

[Karlos the jackyl]

I agree , a quick google confirms water in the air causes the reaction.

[Andy]

Cut another one open and drop it in a bucket of water. 

[Nick_S]

Cut another one open and drop it in a bucket of water. 

Haha auto ignition of hydrogen on the grand scale If you hear it fizzle just from water vapor, get out your ear plugs and schrappnel screen for the bucket test!

[ereeiz]

I remember seeing that in physics many moons ago. The teacher then stuck another two elements in from around the same place on the periodic table. Fun stuff

[youngprodigys]

Cut another one open and drop it in a bucket of water. 

bloody hell! it will bloody kill him! dont do that.

only kidding, i watched a lad at school chuck a lump of potassium in the sink in a chemistry class, the resulting reaction was so big the sink smashed to pieces and came off the wall with a very large purple flash

[gofasterpinch]

in physics

surely it was chemistry? 

[ereeiz]

in physics

surely it was chemistry? 

We hadn't started "chemistry" at that point as a lesson, it was all done under physics. Didn't start it as a proper lesson 'til yr 10