What will happen if I drink sodium?

November 25, 2025 •

3 min read

According to chemical experts, pure, metallic sodium reacts violently and exothermically with water, making it extremely dangerous to ingest. A person asking, "what will happen if I drink sodium?" needs to understand the critical difference between elemental sodium and the ionic sodium found in table salt, as the former causes instant and severe chemical burns, while the latter can lead to salt poisoning if consumed in excess. This article explains the catastrophic consequences of ingesting pure sodium metal and the very different dangers of excessive dietary sodium.

Quick Summary

Ingesting pure sodium metal triggers an explosive, corrosive reaction with the body's water, causing immediate and severe internal burns from the heat and resulting sodium hydroxide. In contrast, consuming too much sodium chloride (table salt) overloads the body's regulatory systems, leading to severe hypernatremia, which can cause seizures, brain swelling, coma, and death. Immediate medical intervention is crucial in both scenarios.

Key Points

Elemental vs. Ionic Sodium: Ingesting pure, elemental sodium metal causes violent chemical burns, while excess dietary sodium (as found in salt) leads to hypernatremia.
Extreme Reactivity: Pure sodium metal reacts explosively with the water inside the human body, producing highly corrosive sodium hydroxide (lye) and flammable hydrogen gas.
Caustic Burns: The sodium hydroxide created on ingestion of elemental sodium causes immediate and severe chemical burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach.
Hypernatremia from Excess Salt: Drinking excessive amounts of salt or seawater overloads the body, causing cells to shrink, potentially leading to confusion, seizures, coma, and death.
Kidney Overload: The kidneys regulate the body's sodium balance, but can be overwhelmed by dangerously high intake, leading to severe health complications.
Immediate Medical Attention: In both ingestion scenarios, immediate medical help is necessary. Do not induce vomiting if the substance is corrosive.

The Explosive Dangers of Drinking Pure Sodium

Ingesting elemental sodium metal is not a simple dietary mistake; it is a life-threatening chemical emergency. When sodium metal comes into contact with any moisture, such as the saliva in your mouth or the water in your stomach, it triggers a violent, exothermic reaction. This reaction produces two immediate and harmful byproducts:

Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): This is a highly corrosive substance that causes immediate and severe chemical burns to any tissue it touches, including the mouth, esophagus, and stomach lining. In high concentrations, sodium hydroxide is the primary component of drain cleaners.
Hydrogen Gas: The reaction also releases flammable hydrogen gas. The intense heat generated can cause this hydrogen gas to ignite, leading to a potential explosion in the mouth and throat.

This is why elemental sodium is stored in inert mineral oil, as it is too reactive to even be exposed to the air. The resulting tissue damage from chemical burns and potential explosion would be catastrophic and likely fatal without immediate and specialized medical care.

The Serious Consequences of Excessive Sodium Ions

While elemental sodium is a catastrophic threat, consuming too much ionic sodium—like that found in everyday table salt (sodium chloride)—also poses significant health risks. This condition is known as hypernatremia, where the blood's sodium level becomes abnormally high.

Symptoms of Hypernatremia

Early symptoms can include intense thirst, weakness, fatigue, and nausea.
More severe symptoms arise as the condition progresses, including confusion, muscle twitching, seizures, and bleeding in or around the brain as cells shrink.

Comparison: Sodium Metal vs. Sodium Chloride Overdose


Feature	Ingesting Pure Sodium Metal (Na)	Ingesting Excessive Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
Ingestion Event	Immediate, explosive chemical reaction	Overwhelming the body's fluid and electrolyte balance
Primary Danger	Caustic chemical and thermal burns, explosion	Hypernatremia, brain swelling, and cell damage
Timeline of Effects	Instant and catastrophic	Hours to days, depending on intake rate
Mechanism of Harm	Violent reaction with water (2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂)	Excess sodium ions pull water out of cells and tissues
First Aid	Do not induce vomiting, give water if conscious, seek immediate help	Give water if conscious, call poison control

The Body's Delicate Sodium Balance

Our bodies require sodium to function properly, but this is a tightly regulated process. The body normally maintains blood sodium levels within a very narrow range (135–145 mEq/L). The kidneys play a critical role in filtering and balancing sodium and water. Excessive intake can overwhelm this system, leading to the dangerous cellular shrinkage that characterizes hypernatremia. Chronic high sodium intake, even if not immediately lethal, is linked to long-term health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney damage.

Immediate Actions for Suspected Ingestion

If someone has ingested elemental sodium metal or a highly concentrated sodium compound, it is a medical emergency requiring immediate action:

Call emergency services immediately.
Do not induce vomiting. The corrosive substance will cause more damage on its way back up.
If the person is conscious and breathing normally, you may give them small amounts of water to help dilute the substance, but this should be done with extreme caution.
Have any information about the substance ingested ready for the first responders and Poison Control.

Conclusion

In summary, the question "what will happen if I drink sodium?" is predicated on a critical distinction: elemental sodium metal vs. ionic sodium in salt. Ingesting pure sodium metal is an extremely violent and catastrophic event resulting in severe chemical and thermal burns and potential explosion. Consuming dangerously high concentrations of salt leads to hypernatremia, which is a medical emergency that can cause organ damage, seizures, and death. In either case, it is a life-threatening situation demanding immediate medical attention. It is crucial for public understanding to differentiate between these two very different, but equally dangerous, scenarios to ensure proper safety protocols are followed. For authoritative guidance on poisoning emergencies, you should always contact a reliable resource, such as the Poison Control website.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, they are not the same. Sodium is an element (Na), while table salt is the compound sodium chloride (NaCl). Table salt is approximately 40% sodium by weight.

Elemental sodium reacts violently with water in a highly exothermic (heat-producing) reaction. It produces hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide, which is a strong, corrosive base.

Hypernatremia is a condition defined by an abnormally high concentration of sodium in the blood. It occurs when the body's sodium intake exceeds its ability to regulate fluid balance, causing water to be drawn out of cells.

Initial symptoms of hypernatremia include extreme thirst, fatigue, nausea, and general weakness. As the condition worsens, more severe neurological symptoms can appear.

Yes, excessive consumption of high-sodium foods, like processed snacks, cured meats, and fast food, can contribute to hypernatremia, particularly if water intake is inadequate.

Call emergency services immediately. Do not induce vomiting, and if the person is conscious, you can give a small amount of water to dilute the substance while waiting for help. Be aware of potential chemical burns and explosion risk.

Yes, lethal salt poisoning is rare but possible, especially if large quantities are consumed, such as drinking seawater or a very concentrated salt solution. The lethal dose is approximately 0.5–1 gram per kilogram of body weight.