Make Sodium Metal with Menthol (and a bunch of other stuff...)

In this video we make sodium metal from menthol, sodium hydroxide, magnesium, baby oil, and a some lithium if necessary.

First, we get a flask and add in 14g of magnesium metal, this can be obtained from fire starters. Then we add in 20g of sodium hydroxide which is acquired from drain opener. Now the key catalyst is 1-2g of menthol crystals, these can easily be bought online. A magnetic stir bar should be added at this point. On top we add in 125mL of mineral oil, i recommend hypoallergenic baby oil. Finally, 3g of sodium metal is added to jump start the reaction and serve as a drying agent. If this cannot be obtained then the lithium hacked out of an AA energizer battery can be used.

The reaction mixture is connected to a gas bubbler and a thermometer is inserted. Magnetic stirring is applied and the contents kept suspended to prevent hot spots.

The mixture is heated to 120-130 celsius for 2 hours or until bubbling stops, whichever comes first. What's happening is the sodium or lithium metal jump start is reacting with any moisture present and destroying it. This is necessary to prevent damage to the glassware from the highly caustic reaction mixture at higher temperatures. If this damage is acceptable then the jump starter metal may be ignored.

After 2 hours or when the bubbling stops, heating is increased to 200 Celsius. Sodium metal is produced here as the magnesium reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce sodium, magnesium oxide, and hydrogen. Menthol serves as the catalyst, allowing this reaction to proceed in a controlled fashion at 200 Celsius. Other catalysts like tertiary alcohols or borneol may also be used.

Heating is continued until bubbling stops, about 30-40 hours in the case of menthol. After cooling, the sodium can be boiled in dioxane to separate excess magnesium. Alternatively, the sodium can be remelted into an ingot, and the excess magnesium cut away as it tends to settle at the bottom.

Approx yield is 10.9g or 94%

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#Sodium #Menthol

[Nighthawkinlight]

Less than ten years ago there were people laughed off chemistry forums on a weekly basis for asking for an easy and safe way to make sodium metal. It was thought impossible outside of electrolysis. Sure showed em. Menthol brings this to a new level of accessibility.

[NurdRage]

The sodium project won't stop, there is still a lot more to research. But i'll be doing some other projects too.

[professortrog]

Years of work condensed into 12 minutes. Impressive.

[redstonekingrebooted]

Glad to see this project entering its final stages. A far cry from its somewhat pessimistic beginnings. It’s amazing to see scientific discovery documented AS it happens.

[bormisha]

When looking at this video and thinking how easy it is to make sodium, remember that a professional PhD chemist spent more than a year of his free time to perfect the process and especially to find a suitable and commonly available catalyst.

[Guffy]

This is exceptional, I've been following you for years, even long before Patreon existed and you were fully stuck because you couldn't keep on doing these experiments.

I knew that you always wanted to have some sort of breakthrough experiment, and, I think, this could be it. You've worked for years on this, and I've seen the failures, the successes, the trials and tribulations and the all-out "giving up" stage. I'm so happy that you managed to see this through to a reasonable conclusion.

Sodium metal access to the amateur opens up so many opportunities for new chemists to perfect the art, through having purer end results, to higher yields, to actually being able to do things without shedding hundreds on chemicals that they can't afford on a budget to fuel a hobby passion.

So well done to you sir, you've done the exceptional!

Congratulations!

[apocalypticpioneers]

"Some years ago"
I feel old now

[zaclal]

As a chemist myself I take off my hat to you sir for your persistent and dedication
Hope you can publish this and get the recognition you deserve for an excellent application of science and chemistry ...

[laboratoryofliptakov]

It's unbelievable that the menthol can works the whole process like menthol without decompose. Best video on this theme on entire YouTube. Hat down.

[ifonlyeverything]

A few tips discovered the hard way: Mg powder/dust requires exceptional magnetic stirring or an overhead stirrer because it tends to form a sludge. Mg shavings don't pack well which means they stir poorly and require a very large flask. Mg turnings or chopped up Mg ribbon is the best compromise, although good stirring is still required.

Use a large, strong stir bar that covers almost the entire diameter of your flask. If you use an undersized stir bar, poor stirring will cause undisturbed pockets of Mg that ultimately forms aggregates. This slows the reaction and, more seriously, traps the stir bar and forms localized hot spots which will overheat and crack the flask. I had this happen and the bottom of the flask cracked after about 24 hours at 200 C. I'm not sure if my stir bars are unusually shitty but despite being PTFE they were wrecked (dark black) at the end of this 24 hour reaction.

If the reaction fails be very careful during cleanup as you're faced with the task of digging chunks of unreacted Mg aggregates out of the flask which are also coated in small globules of sodium. This can easily burst into flame if any moisture hits it, which is a very bad thing if it happens inside the flask. Hydrogen + flame + glass vessel with a narrow neck = exploding glass.

[targusmack]

Pro tip: cheap magnesium can be found at scrap/junk yards in the form of wheel rims. Ask if you can buy broken mag rims, as these only have scrap value.

[DancingRain]

Congratulations on getting this process boiled down to a tutorial. It's been an amazing journey, and I'm grateful that you've taken us all along on the ride with you.
Keep being awesome :D

[Rymo]

I started watching these videos over 10 years ago and now Im getting my degree in Chemistry. Thank you for inspiring me.

[justarandomname]

Fueling desires for chemistry. Perfect for Valentine's Day! Look foreward to seeing the new lab.

[Angel_the_Bunny]

This is the end of one of the most exciting sagas of youtube videos I have ever watched. I am extremely impressed with what you achieved!

[BothHands]

So cool to see the fruits of all your labor over these last months. Can't wait for the next video!

[JJJthebest]

HOLY SHIT IT'S OUT

The moment has come. Thank you, NurdRage. Can't wait to see the additional developments in the project!

[MystycCheez]

"As you can see, it's a very simple and straightforward process that anyone could have figured out"
LMAO

[yogimarkmac]

Thanks for your hard work, inspiration, and sharing knowledge of chemistry!

[tommasopetrella]

That is crazy! I can't believe it can be that easy, and well, actually at all without fire. Great work and thanks for the knowledge!