NaK

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NaK

NaK (rhyming with "sack") is a sodium

Sodium

Sodium is an element which has the symbol Na , atomic number 11, atomic mass 23 amu , and a common oxidation number +1. Sodium is a soft, silvery white, highly reactive element and is a member of the alkali metals within "group 1" ....
(Na) - potassium

Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash, hence the name....
(K) alloy usually liquid at room temperature. Various commercial grades are available. NaK is highly reactive with air or water and must be handled with special precautions. Quantities as small as one gram can be a fire or explosion risk.

containing 40% to 90% potassium by weight is liquid at room temperature.

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Encyclopedia

NaK (rhyming with "sack") is a sodium

Sodium

Potassium

Physical properties

NaK containing 40% to 90% potassium by weight is liquid at room temperature. The eutectic mix consists of 78% potassium and 22% sodium, is liquid from −12.6 to 785 °C, and has a density of 866 kg/m³ at 21°C and 855 kg/m³ at 100°C, making it less dense than water.

Usage

As coolant

One notable use is as the coolant

Coolant

A coolant is a fluid which flows through a device in order to prevent its overheating, transferring the heat produced by the device to other devices that utilize or dissipate it....
in experimental fast neutron nuclear reactor

Fast neutron reactor

A fast neutron reactor or simply a fast reactor is a category of nuclear reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons....
s. Unlike commercial plants, these are frequently shut down and defuelled. Use of lead

Lead

Lead is a main-group Chemical element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal, also considered to be one of the heavy metal ....
or pure sodium, the other materials used in practical reactors, would require continual heating to maintain the coolant as a liquid. Use of NaK overcomes this. NaK is used in many other heat transfer applications for similar reasons.

The Soviet RORSAT

RORSAT

Radar Ocean Reconnaissance SATellite or RORSAT is the western name given to the Soviet Union Upravlyaemyj Sputnik Aktivnyj satellites....
radar satellites were powered by a NaK-cooled reactor. Apart from the wide liquid temperature range, NaK has a very low vapor pressure

Vapor pressure

Vapor pressure , is the pressure of a vapor in Thermodynamic equilibrium with its non-vapor Phase s. All liquids and solids have a tendency to evaporate to a gaseous form, and all gases have a tendency to Condensation back into their original form ....
, important in the vacuum of space

Outer space

Outer space comprises the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies. Outer space is used to distinguish it from airspace and terrestrial locations....
.

In catalysis

NaK is also used as a catalyst for many reactions, including precursors of ibuprofen

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug originally marketed as Brufen, and since then under various other trademarks , most notably Nurofen, Advil and Motrin....
.

As desiccant

Both sodium and potassium are used as desiccant

Desiccant

A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of dryness in its local vicinity in a moderately-well sealed container.Commonly encountered pre-packaged desiccants are solids, and work through absorption or adsorption of water, or a combination of the two....
s in drying solvents prior to distillation. However, without heating, the solid metal is only able to react at the surface. Formation of oxide crusts also reduces the reactivity. As a liquid metal alloy at room temperature, the use of NaK as a desiccant

Desiccant