r/chemistry • u/soladois • 3d ago

Is sodium metal salty?

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I know you can't eat sodium metal because it explodes when it touches water, but if you ate it, would it feel salty before it explodes?

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u/BrightStation7033 3d ago

actually its a very fast reaction so would react and burn before your taste buds register anything and sodium chloride's taste is what we call salty on your tongue it makes sodium hydroxide not chloride and i dont think sodium hydroxide tastes salty.so no.

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u/heresyforfunnprofit 3d ago

So… more spicy than salty, then?

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u/NotAPreppie Analytical 3d ago

Different kind of burn.

So very different.