How does sodium react with water?

Sodium reacts vigorously with water in a highly exothermic (heat-producing) process. When placed in contact with liquid water, sodium undergoes an oxidation-reduction reaction where electrons are transferred from sodium atoms to water molecules.12

This reaction produces sodium hydroxide (a strong base) and releases hydrogen gas. The chemical equation for this process is:342

$$2Na(s)+2H_{2}O(l)\to 2N{a}^{+}(aq)+2O{H}^{-}(aq)+H_2(g)$$

The reaction is particularly hazardous because the hydrogen gas released can ignite, and the reaction of liquid sodium with a high surface area can be explosive. While the reaction is highly exothermic, the explosive hazards are primarily associated with the hydrogen gas produced rather than shock waves characteristic of high explosives.12