Sodium

Symbol

Na

Atomic number

11

Atomic mass	22.9897		Thermal conductivity	1.41
Atomic radius	2.23		Covalent radius	1.54
Density	0.97		Atomic volume	23.7
Melting point	371.0		Oxidation states	1
Boiling point	1156		Stable isotopes	1
Heat of vapor.	96.96		Electronegativity	0.93
Heat of fusion	2.598		First ionization	5.139
Specific heat	1.23		Electrical conduct.	...

Electron configuration

Sodium

Sodium, like the other alkali metals (Group I), is a sivery-white metal of very high chemical reactivity. Sodium is one of the big 8 elements in the Earth's crust, being the sixth most abundant element at about 2.8% by weight. It is a constituent of the plagioclase form of feldspar, one of the most abundant minerals on the earth.

The most important compound of sodium is sodium chloride, NaCl (common table salt). It crystallizes as colorless cubes. Comprising 3% of sea water and also occurring in large solid deposits and underground salt brines, NaCl is an abundant mineral. In crystalline form it is given the mineral name halite. It is important as an electrolyte in human blood and plasma, which contain about 0.9 grams of NaCl per 100 ml.

Sodium chloride is used for the extraction of metallic sodium and gaseous chlorine, as well as for preparation of other compounds of these elements.

Sodium borates such as borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate, Na₂B₄O₇. 10H₂O), kernite (sodium tetraborate tetrahydrate, Na₂B₄O₇. 4H₂O), and colemanite (calcium hexaborate pentahydrate, Ca₂B₆O₁₁. 5H₂O) form vast deposits of boron in California .

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a very important laboratory reagent and a widely used industrial chemical. Called caustic soda, it is very corrosive to the skin. It is used in the manufacture of soap, the refining of petroleum, the manufacture of paper, textiles, rayon, cellulose film, and many other products.

The properties of liquid sodium metal make it useful as a coolant in fast breeder reactors and as a heat transfer agent for very high temperature reactions.

Sodium Nuclear Data