Although quite stable, the blue ammonia solutions containing solvated electrons degrade rapidly in the presence of catalysts to give colorless solutions of sodium amide:
:2 [Na(NH)]e  →  H  +  2 NaNH  +  10 NH
Electride salts can be isolated by the addition of macrocyclic ligands such as crown ether and cryptands to solutions containing solvated electrons.  These ligands strongly bind the cations and prevent their re-reduction by the electron.
:[Na(NH)]e  +  cryptand →  [Na(cryptand)]e+  6 NH
The solvated electron reacts with oxygen to form a superoxide radical (O). With nitrous oxide, solvated electrons react to form hydroxyl radicals (HO).