Sodium (11)
- It is never found as a pure element. It is found in many different minerals, such as:
- Halite and Natron – very soluble
- Amphibole and Zeolite – less soluble
- Cryolite and Feldspar – Insoluble
- Sodium compounds that are important include:
- Table salt (NaCl)
- Soda Ash (Na2CO3)
- Baking Soda (NaHCO3)
- Caustic Soda (NaOH)
- Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3)
- Di & Tri-Sodium Phosphate
- Sodium Thiosulfate (Na2S2O3.5H2O)
- Borax (Na2B4O7.10H2O)
- Sodium soaps are harder (higher melting) soaps than potassium soaps.
- Sodium chloride is extensively used for anti-icing and de-icing and as a preservative.
- Sodium bicarbonate is used for cooking.
- Sodium Hydride is used as a base for various reactions (such as aldol reaction) in organic chemistry and as a reducing agent in inorganic chemistry.
- First isolated by the electrolysis of Sodium Hydroxide and chloride.
- Sodium is generally less reaction than Potassium and more reactive than lithium.
- Sodium vapor lamps are often used for street lighting in cities.
- Liquid sodium is used as a heat transfer fluid in some fast reactors.
- The UL for sodium is 2.3 grams per day, about half of US teaspoon, the threshold which could lead to hypertension when exceeded.
- To isolate Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3), seaweed was burned and the ash washed with water. The remaining waste was destroyed by adding Sulfuric Acid.