Solutions of electride salts are powerful reducing agents, as demonstrated by their use in the Birch reduction. Evaporation of these blue solutions affords a mirror of Na metal. If not evaporated, such solutions slowly lose their colour as the electrons reduce ammonia:
:2[Na(NH)]e → 2NaNH + 10NH + H
This conversion is catalyzed by various metals. An electride, [Na(NH)]e, is formed as a reaction intermediate.