Chemical properties of sodium

Sodium atomic number
Who discovered sodium
Interesting facts about sodium

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Sodium

This article is about the chemical element. For the nutrient commonly called sodium, see salt. For the use of sodium as a medication, see Saline (medicine). For other uses, see sodium (disambiguation).

"Natrium" redirects here. For other uses, see Natrium (disambiguation).

Chemical element with atomic number 11 (Na)

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What is sodium, where is it found and why it's important?

Sodium is a chemical element and the most common metal found in the universe.

It is a soft metal which can be easily cut with a knife.

When freshly cut, it will have a dull, greyish metallic colour which will quickly oxidise to a white/grey colour due to the oxygen in the atmosphere. But why is the element important?

Where is sodium in the periodic table?

Sodium is an alkali metal, located in group one of the periodic table.

The chemical symbol for sodium is Na, which is abbreviated from the Latin word, natrium. This is in reference to the Egyptian natural mineral salt, natron, which mainly consists of sodium carbonate (hydrated) or Ca(CO3)2 .

This abbreviation was first published in 1814 by Jöns Jakob Berzelius in one of the early systems of chemical symbols.

Sodium actually comes from the Arabic word, suda, meaning headache.

This is due to sodium carbonate being used in Arabic culture as a headache remedy.

It also has roots in medieval Europe, from the old headache remedy, sodan

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Atomic Number: 11

Atomic Weight: 22.98976928

Melting Point: 370.95 K (97.80°C or 208.04°F)

Boiling Point: 1156 K (883°C or 1621°F)

Density: 0.97 grams per cubic centimeter

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Element Classification: Metal

Period Number: 3

Group Number: 1

Group Name: Alkali Metal

What's in a name? From the English word soda and from the Medieval Latin word sodanum, which means "headache remedy." Sodium's chemical symbol comes from the Latin word for sodium carbonate, natrium.

Say what? Sodium is pronounced as SO-dee-em.

History and Uses:

Although sodium is the sixth most abundant element on earth and comprises about 2.6% of the earth's crust, it is a very reactive element and is never found free in nature. Pure sodium was first isolated by Sir Humphry Davy in 1807 through the electrolysis of caustic soda (NaOH). Since sodium can ignite on contact with water, it must be stored in a moisture free environment.

Sodium is used in the production of titanium, sodamide, sodium cyanide, sodium peroxide, and sodium hydride. Liquid


Appearance	silvery white metallic
Atomic number(Z)	11
Group	group 1: hydrogen and alkali metals
Period	period 3
Block	s-block
Electron configuration	[Ne] 3s¹
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 1
Phaseat STP	solid
Melting point	370.944 K (97.794 °C, 208.029 °F)
Boiling point	1156.090 K (882.940 °C, 1621.292 °F)
Density (at 20° C)	0.9688 g/cm³^[3]
when liquid (at m.p.)	0.927 g/cm³
Critical point	2573 K, 35 MPa (extrapolated)
Heat of fusion	2.60 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization	97.42 kJ/mol