Sodium

Sodium
Properties
Atomic symbol	Na
Atomic number	11
Classification	Alkali metal
Atomic mass	22.99 amu
Other Information
Date of discovery	1807
Name of discoverer	Davy, Sir Humphrey
Name origin	From the Latin Natrium
Uses	important biological role, and used in numerous industrial processes
Obtained from	halite, trona

Sodium is an element in the alkali metals class of the periodic table. It is so chemically active that it is never found free (in elemental form) in nature. In its elemental form, sodium reacts violently with water, forming sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Sodium metal is usually stored in an oil based solution to prevent it from reacting with moisture in the air.

Sodium was isolated as an element in 1807, by Sir Humphrey Davy.

Applications

Sodium is often combined with other elements and has a range of applications, such as salt (sodium chloride), "soda ash" or "mineral alkali" (sodium carbonate), lye or "caustic soda" (sodium hydroxide).

Sodium has also been used to challenge the assumptions behind an Old Earth, the argument being that if the earth was billions of years old, one would expect there to be more salt in the sea than currently exists.