Sodium

Sodium is a chemical element with symbol Na.

ORIGIN
Mostly, the symbols that can be found in the
Periodic table are related to the name of
element like H for hydrogen and Mg for
Magnesium but how come Na became the
Symbol of Sodium?
Na is extracted from the latin word Natrium
which means Salt and Sodium came from the
Sodanum, a headache remedy that contains salt.
Sodium is discovered by Humphry Davy and became widely known in 1907 a few
days after he discovered potassium. It was discovered by using electrolysis on
sodium hydroxide.
What is Electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a technique that uses a direct electric current (DC) to drive an
otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction.

FEATURES
It is Chemical element, with the symbol of Na, with the atomic number of 11 and
atomic weight 22.9898. Its a soft metal, reactive and with a low melting point, with
a relative density of 0.97 at 20C (68F). From the commercial point of view,
sodium is the most important of all the alkaline metals.
Sodium reacts quickly with water, and also with snow and ice, to produce sodium
hydroxide and hydrogen. When it is exposed on air, it looases its silvery white color
and turns into opaque grey colour due to the formation of a sodium oxide coating.
It is malleable and serves as a good conductor of electricity and heat.

USES
It is commonly use in the following:
1. For Agricultural uses
- Use for making fertilizers for plants and crops.
2. For Medical uses
- In medicine, the salt form of a medication with high sodium or potassium
ingredient can improve bioavailability
3. For purifying molten metal

4. For household uses such as soap and cleaners.

used as sodium salts of fatty acids because it is harder and higher
melting than other soaps
5. For chemical synthesis, analysis, and heat transfer applications
6. For making glass, paper, petroleum and in textile industries.
7. For seasoning and food preservation.
8. Sodium are used to make vapor lamps for street lighting in cities.
- Those are street lights with orange light.
9. It is used to de-ice roads in winter
10.
Baking soda is used as a leavening agent in cooking foods like
pancakes, cakes, and breads.
FUNCTION
1. It is important for the proper regulation of the acid-base balance of the body
and for the nervous system.
2. The body needs a small amount of sodium to help maintain normal blood
pressure and normal function of muscles and nerves.
3. It helps the brain works.
4. It helps the body to digest food.
5. It is a crucial element for animal and plant life by creating charge gradients
and assisting in the development of energy.
6. Sodium is used as a heat exchanger in some nuclear reactors, and as a
reagent in the chemicals industry
WHERE CAN SODIUM BE FOUND
It is only found in compounds such as sodium chloride (NaCL) or table salt. Sodium
chloride is found in ocean water (salt water), salt lakes, and underground deposits.
Pure sodium can be recovered from sodium chloride through electrolysis. The earth
crust is compose of 3% sodium.

TRIVIA:
1. Sodium is thought to be a metal but it is not extracted from any ore but
from rock salt and common salt.
2. Is it electric or Non-electric?
Ans.: It is electric because it is a good conductor of electricity and heat.