You can cut sodium with a butter knife—but never add water

A closer look

When you picture metal, you imagine something tough enough to forge a sword, but sodium is bizarrely pathetic in its structural integrity. You can easily slice a raw chunk of sodium completely in half using nothing but a cheap plastic butter knife. Despite being softer than cold cheese, dropping that exact same slice into a puddle of water will result in a violent explosion, proving that softness does not equal safety.