Sodium (11)

  1. It is never found as a pure element. It is found in many different minerals, such as:
  2. Halite and Natron – very soluble
  3. Amphibole and Zeolite – less soluble
  4. Cryolite and Feldspar – Insoluble
  5. Sodium compounds that are important include:
  6. Table salt (NaCl)
  7. Soda Ash (Na2CO3)
  8. Baking Soda (NaHCO3)
  9. Caustic Soda (NaOH)
  10. Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3)
  11. Di & Tri-Sodium Phosphate
  12. Sodium Thiosulfate (Na2S2O3.5H2O)
  13. Borax (Na2B4O7.10H2O)
  14. Sodium soaps are harder (higher melting) soaps than potassium soaps.
  15. Sodium chloride is extensively used for anti-icing and de-icing and as a preservative.
  16. Sodium bicarbonate is used for cooking.
  17. 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.
  18. First isolated by the electrolysis of Sodium Hydroxide and chloride.
  19. Sodium is generally less reaction than Potassium and more reactive than lithium.
  20. Sodium vapor lamps are often used for street lighting in cities.
  21. Liquid sodium is used as a heat transfer fluid in some fast reactors.
  22. The UL for sodium is 2.3 grams per day, about half of US teaspoon, the threshold which could lead to hypertension when exceeded.
  23. To isolate Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3), seaweed was burned and the ash washed with water. The remaining waste was destroyed by adding Sulfuric Acid.