Sodium is very important as it is needed to make most compounds. Sodium Is a soft, silvery-white metal that is highly reactive. It is also the sixth most abundant element in the earth's crust. If sodium is set aflame it burns in air with a brilliant yellow flame. Sodium has an Atomic Number of 11. It also has an Atomic Mass of 22.989768. It belongs to the Alkali Metal group. .
Sodium was discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1807. Sir Humprey Davy was an English chemist who discovered several chemical elements and compounds. He discovered Sodium in England. He became one of the greatest exponents of the scientific method. He was best remembered for his contributions to the understanding of electrochmistry and his invention of a safety lamp for miners. .
There are very few uses for sodium, however its compounds are used in medicine, agriculture, and photography. One of its most common compounds is table salt. Sodium has a melting point of 97.81 Celsius and a boiling point of 882.9 Celsius. Sodium is also the most abundant alkali metal. Sodium floats on water that decomposes it to evolve hydrogen and form hydroxide. Sodium is also used in glass, soap, paper, textile, chemicals, petroleum, street lights, and batteries .Sodium in its liquid form can sometimes be used to cool nuclear reactors. .
Sodium has never existed in nature. Sodium is prepared by electrolysis of completely dry fused sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is the common table salt which is important in animal nutrition. Sodium is also necessary in many other forms such as soda ash, baking soda, and chili saltpeter which is sodium nitrate. In conclusion, Sodium is a very important element. .
