Sodium

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Sodium
Chemical formula Na
Atomic Number 11 
OTP appearance silver solid 
Molar Mass(g/mol) 23 
Density(g/cc) 0.96 
Melting Point(°C) 97.8 
Boiling Point(°C) 883
NFPA 704
NFPA704.png
3
3
2
W

Chemically, sodium is very nearly potassium's twin. It is essential for all known organic life.

Uses

Primary

  • Elemental sodium will isolate any other metal from that metal's chloride form.
    (The three exceptions are not on our abbreviated periodic chart: Rb Cs, and Fr)

Natural Sources

Hazards

Sodium is toxic, caustic, and pyrophoric. Handle with care.

Production

Extraction

  • Via electrolysis of liquid sodium chloride (cf. Downs cell)
    2 NaCl
    {
    ~801°C; ~4.1v}
    2 Na + Cl2
  • Via electrolysis of liquid sodium hydroxide isolation of the sodium from air or the other materials is key.
    4 NaOH(l)
    {
    ≥300°C}
    4 Na + 2 H2O + O2
  • Via thermochemical magnesium displacement with dioxane separation
    2 NaOH + Mg
    {
    480 °}
    Na•MgO + H2ΔH=-349.8
    Na•MgO
    {dioxane
    101°C}
    Na + MgO
  • Via menthol-catalyzed magnesium displacement
    2 NaOH + Mg
    {menthol,mineral oil
    200°}
    MgO + Na + H2

See Also

References