Hydrides: ionic, covalent, metallic
Hydrogen · Chemistry
Study notes
NaH reacts violently with water but CH₄ doesn't. Explain. Step 1: NaH is ionic: Na⁺H⁻. H⁻ is a strong base. Step 2: H⁻ + H₂O → H₂ + OH⁻ — violent, exothermic. Step 3: CH₄ is covalent with non-polar C–H bonds; no H⁻ present. Step 4: Water can't attack CH₄ — it's inert to water. Bond type decides reactivity!