Sodium burns in air, 3 of 5. A piece of sodium (Na) metal is heated with a Bunsen burner until it melts. Upon further heating sodium starts to burn with a bright flame. Sodium reacts with oxygen (O2) in the air to produce a mixture of sodium oxide (Na2O) and sodium peroxide (Na2O2): Na + O2 -> Na2O and Na + O2 -> Na2O2.