The skeleton equation for the reaction of water and sodium to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen is:

Na + H₂O → NaOH + H₂

Let's break down why this is the skeleton equation:

* Reactants: Sodium (Na) and water (H₂O) are the substances that react.

* Products: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H₂) are the substances formed.

* Skeleton: The equation only shows the chemical formulas of the reactants and products, not the balanced coefficients.

Important Note: This is a highly exothermic reaction that produces a lot of heat. It is dangerous to perform this reaction without proper safety precautions.