While doing a demonstration for his class Mr Mathras dropped a pea sized piece of silver solid into a beaker of distilled water The solid began fizzing then swirling before bursting into a yellow?

Answer 1

this is not in proper question format, and im not sure of your question, but if the solid is unknown, it would appear to sound like a chemical reaction between lithium and distilled water.

It sounds like one of the alkaline metal Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr.

Probably wasn't Francium (Fr) as this is an extremely rare radioactive element that has never been collected in macroscopic amounts. It is extremely unlikely that Mr. Mathras could manage to obtain a pea-sized sample

Probably wasn't Cesium (Cs) as this explodes into flame on contact with water and burns with a purple-blue or violet flame.

Probably wasn't Rubidium (Rb) as this explodes into flame on contact with water and burns with a pale purple or lavender colour.

Probably wasn't Potassium as its reaction to water is vigorous and it burns with a pink/lilac colour.

It is most likely Sodium as its reaction to water is semi-vigorous and it burns with an golden yellow colour.

It probably wasn't Lithium as its reaction with water is not vigorous, not vigorous enough to initiate combustion in my experience. It burns with a Carmine to Magenta colour.

Answer 2

Mr. Mathras probably dropped a piece of Lithium or Sodium into the beaker. Both Lithium and Sodium are alkali metals and hydrophobic. The further down the alkali family you travel the more violent the reaction. You can find some good videos of this online.

Answer 3

yellow flame

from:Jerry Saunders Jr ( the Basketball Prodigy)

Answer 4

Yellow flame