K and Na are kept in kerosene to prevent them from reacting with oxygen and moisture in the air, which would quickly tarnish their surfaces. Kerosene forms a protective layer that helps to maintain the reactivity and appearance of these reactive metals.
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Sodium is a metal that is commonly kept immersed in kerosene for storing because it reacts violently with water and oxygen in the air. Placing it in kerosene helps prevent these reactions and keeps the metal stable.
Sodium reacts violently with water, releasing hydrogen gas and forming sodium hydroxide. When sodium is kept immersed in kerosene oil, it is isolated from water, preventing the reaction from occurring. Kerosene oil acts as a barrier to keep oxygen away from the sodium, further preventing combustion.
The symbol for sodium is Na and the symbol for potassium is K.
The kerosene molecule does NOT have any oxygen atoms in the molecule; it is an hydrocarbon. Sodium metal will readily react with oxygen, be it in a molecule ( water) or the atmosphere ( atmospheric oxygen in the air). Hence to keep it away from oxygen, it is kept under kerosene. as are all the other Group(1) [alkali] metals.
Potassium has the largest atomic radius.