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Download BNMRfit istallation script Download BNMRfit Download BNMRminfit	Loading and installing the sodium cell Sodium reacts vigorously with water, via the reaction 2Na + 2H2O -> 2NaOH + H2, so some precautions need to be taken in handling it. If the above reaction occurs in air, the evolved hydrogen will often ignite explosively with oxygen. When disposing of large amounts of Na metal it is also possible for enough heat to be generated to ignite direct oxygen burning of the sodium. In spite of this, our previous experience with I4 shows that water in small amounts is the preferred reagent for disposing of waste sodium. The hazard is greatly mitigated by the fact that most of the Na is recycled and relatively small amounts are disposed of. The reservoir is initially loaded in a nitrogen-filled glove box with about 100 gm of solid sodium, taken from a sealed stainless steel storage container. A stainless steel knife is used to cut the sodium, which has the consistency of hard cheese. The reservoir is plugged and taken over to the ISAC beam line. It is there unplugged, and attached to the previously cleaned and assembled remainder of the Na cell, then inserted into the beam line, which is then quickly pumped down. Slight oxidation of the Na in the reservoir during this procedure is not important.The beam line is to be purged with dry nitrogen if it is necessary to preserve the sodium while working on an open beam line.
	Page last modified: 07/23/09 02:45 by Andrew MacFarlane.