Why is this element important in everyday life?
The most important compound of sodium is sodium chloride, known commonly as salt.. Other important compounds include sodium carbonate, known as washing soda, and sodium bicarbonate, known as baking soda. Sodium tetraborate is known commonly as borax. Sodium hydroxide, known commercially as soda lye or caustic soda is used in the manufacture of soap, rayon, paper, in oil refining, and in the textile and rubber industries. Sodium peroxide, Na2O2, is an important bleaching and oxidizing agent. Sodium Fluoride, NaF, is used as an antiseptic, as a poison for mice and roaches, and in ceramics. Sodium nitrate, known as Chile saltpeter, is used as a fertilizer.
Where is this element found in nature?
Sodium is found in nature only in the combined state. It does not occur in nature as an element. It occurs in the ocean and in salt lakes as sodium chloride, NaCl, and less often as sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, and sodium sulfate, Na2SO4. Sodium is prepared commercially by the electrolytic decomposition of fused sodium chloride. It was also isolated in 1807 from the electrolysis of caustic soda, NaOh.
What are the properties of the element? highly reactive, silvery-white, extremely soft metallic element
General Characteristics = metal, used with halogens to form salts
Atomic Symbol = Na
Period Number = 3
Group Number and Family Name = Group 1, alkali metals
Atomic Number = 11
Atomic Mass = 22.990
Density = .971 g/cm3
Melting Point = 97.8 degrees Celsius
Boiling Point = 882.9 degrees Celsius
Electron Configuration = 1s22s22p63s1
Shorthand Notation = [Ne]3s1
Common Reactions = It oxidizes immediately on exposure to air and reacts violently with water, forming sodium hydroxide and hydrogen.
Interesting Information = Sodium is the seventh most common element in the Universe and comprises one-thirtieth of the earth's crust. It is the sixth most abundant element in the earth's crust. Sodium was discovered in 1807 by the British chemist Sir Humphry Davy.
Who is ?
My name is Sodium.
I am really just an old "softy". I cry at sad movies. Some of my hard core friends, like Iron, Chromium, and Manganese make fun of me.
I am easy to get along with. In fact, it takes a lot (882.9 degrees Celsius) to get me boiling.
I am pretty down to earth, (1/30 of the earth's crust) and I consider myself just one of the guys (the seventh most common element).
Actually, I am very around the house. I love to help flavor food (salt), keep the refrigerator smelling fresh (baking soda), and help with the laundry (borax).
I guess you could say that no one could get along without me (a necessary constituent of plant and animal tissue).
