• Question: why does casium explode when reacting with water?

    Asked by superpiman to Asif, Laura, Lena, Sean on 21 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by piman.
    • Photo: Sean Murphy

      Sean Murphy answered on 21 Mar 2012:

      Caesium only one loosely held electron in its outer shell. That causes it to readily react with water to form their oxides, releasing hydrogen gas. The reaction is highly exothermic (producing heat), and so the hydrogen quickly burns, causing an explosion.

    • Photo: Laura Waters

      Laura Waters answered on 21 Mar 2012:

      Please do not try this one at home but it does go with a bang! It is because of where it is in the periodic table.

    • Photo: Lena Ciric

      Lena Ciric answered on 22 Mar 2012:

      Check out the video of the reaction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWXQ2tYzJaU

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