'Every action has an equal but opposite reaction' They are equal, but opposite.
Reaction of sodium with water
Sodium metal reacts rapidly with water to form a colourless solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H2). The resulting solution is basic because of the dissolved hydroxide. The reaction is exothermic. During the reaction, the sodium metal may well become so hot that it catches fire and burns with a characteristic orange colour. The reaction is slower than that of potassium (immediately below sodium in the periodic table), but faster than that of lithium (immediately above sodium in the periodic table).
2Na(s) + 2H2O → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
To determine strength of attractive forces between the molecules the size of the molecules, their polarity (dipole moment), and their shape. ... If two molecules have about the same size and similar shape, the dipole-dipole intermolecular attractive force increases with increasing polarity.
