i saw this video on how to make rust:

 

i was just wondering what happens to the sodium in this reaction?

reacts with the water to form sodium hydroxide which is re-elecrolysed then reacts again to form sodium hydroxide and so on.

so in the end you end up with rust and sodium hydroxide?

yep

if i were to try and use this with powdered aluminium in a thermite demonstration would it affect the reaction?

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would water not containing salt work?

ill ask again, because noone has answered and i am still wondering, would this work with pure water?