Turn metal into transparent

Scientists in the US and China have discovered the transparent form of sodium (Na) after putting this element into a high-pressure environment.

'We all know that under high enough pressure all matter becomes solid like metal. On Saturn and Jupiter, even hydrogen gas has turned into metal due to the effects of extreme pressure and temperature, 'said Artem Oganov, Stony Brook University's theory of theoretical crystallography. know.

Sodium will become transparent under extreme pressure. Photo: wordpress.com. Under the pressure of sodium atmosphere is white. However, physics professor Yanming Ma of Jilin University (China) predicts that the unusual crystalline structure of sodium makes it transparent and capable of insulating under high pressure. Ma has demonstrated that under tremendous pressure, the sodium atom pushes the outer electrons into the 'holes' between the atoms.

'When entering these holes electrons cannot escape. They have the same role as fake atoms and that causes the solid state to disappear , 'explained Professor Ma. Experimental results show that, when the pressure rises above 1 atmospheric level, sodium gradually turns black. At 2 million atmospheres, sodium turns transparent red. If the pressure continues to increase, the metal is still transparent but no longer colored.

'This finding is important because it helps scientists understand the properties of matter in high-pressure environments, especially on stars and super-planets. The most surprising thing is that the pressure level for the state change to happen can be achieved experimentally , 'Oganov said.

Sodium is a soft, light, silvery-white metal with a strong chemical reaction that cannot be found in the free form in nature. Sodium is floating in water and has an intense reaction to water, producing hydrogen and hydroxide ions. If made into a fine powder, sodium will ignite itself in water. However, it does not ignite in air with temperatures below 115 ° C.