22.99
Atomic Mass (u)
97.72 C
Melting Point
883 C
Boiling Point
0.968 g/cm3
Density
0.93
Electronegativity
[Ne] 3s1
Electron Config
3
Period
1
Group
📖 About Sodium
A soft, silvery metal that reacts violently with water, producing hydrogen and heat. It never occurs free in nature due to its reactivity. Despite this, sodium is essential to life, regulating fluid balance and nerve impulses. Sodium chloride (table salt) has shaped human civilization, used for food preservation long before refrigeration.
🔧 Uses and Applications
- Table salt (NaCl) for food and preservation
- Street lighting (sodium vapor lamps give yellow glow)
- Nuclear reactor coolant (liquid sodium)
- Soap production
- Nerve function (sodium ions)
💡 Did You Know?
Fact: Liquid sodium metal is used as the coolant in some fast breeder nuclear reactors because it transfers heat extremely efficiently. However, it ignites on contact with water or air, requiring very careful engineering.