Though no radiation was released and no one died, three tons of liquid sodium burst from Monju's cooling circuits.

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The oxide (which comes from an ore called coltan) is converted to a fluoride using hydrofluoric acid, and the fluoride is then reduced with liquid sodium.

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In the right circumstances these channels will allow the passage of sodium ions (the liquid to be investigated must have these added in the form of sodium chloride, or common salt, if they are not present naturally).

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The machine blends iron, bleach and sodium hydroxide to form a dark purple liquid mixture of ferrate, salt and water that gets metered into the water supply. (The color disappears instantly as it reacts with the water.) Common disinfectants ozone and chlorine can turn the water cloudy or, worse, leave behind harmful chemical by-products.

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