Question

Why are alkali metals kept in kerosene oil?

Answer 1

(1) Alkali metals have only one electron in their valence shell which they can easily lose.

(2) In the presence of water, they produce hydrogen which catches fire and causes the explosion.

$\underset{\mathrm{Alkali}\mathrm{metal}}{\underbrace{\mathrm{M}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{\underbrace{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}}\to \underset{\mathrm{Alkali}\mathrm{oxide}}{\underbrace{\mathrm{MOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{\underbrace{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}}+∆$

(3) Kerosene oil consists of hydrocarbons only that do not react with sodium.

So, alkali metals are kept in kerosene oil.