Sodium

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 Occurrence 3 Characteristics 4 Uses 5 More General Terms 6 Additional Terms 7 Internet Database 8 References

Introduction

• From the English soda, taken from the Latin sodanum, a common ancient headache remedy. The chemical symbol Na comes from the Latin word for sodium carbonate, natrium. First discovered & isolated by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1807.

Occurrence

• 6th most abundant element in earth's crust
• every gallon of seawater contains 1/4 pound of NaCl
• never found free in nature

Characteristics

• a silver white soft waxy ductile element of the alkali metal group
• very reactive element: can ignite when mixed with water

Uses

• essential to most species, including humans
• used it table salt, soda, glass, batteries, streetlights
• NaOH is used as a base for lye, caustic soda, drain cleaners, oven cleaners
• NaCO3is mixed with sand & lime to make glass
• NaHCO3
• liquid sodium is used to transfer heat out of nuclear reactors

More General Terms

• alkali metal

Additional Terms

• Na+
• periodic table

Internet Database

PubChem: 924
PubChem: 923

References

1. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam- Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
2. Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003

sodium [Na]