🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Sodium
• Discovered By: Sir Humphry Davy
• Year of Discovery: 1807
• Category: Alkali Metal
• Group: 1 (Group IA – Alkali Metals)
• State at Room Temperature: Solid (soft, silvery-white metal) ⚪

Sodium is a highly reactive metal and one of the alkali metals, which are soft, shiny, and very reactive — especially with water! It’s never found free in nature because it reacts quickly with air and moisture.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: Na (from Latin “Natrium”)
• Atomic Number: 11
• Atomic Mass: ~22.99 u
• Valency: 1
• Electronic Configuration: [Ne] 3s¹

Sodium has one electron in its outer shell, making it highly reactive. When it reacts with water, it produces hydrogen gas and heat, often causing it to catch fire! 🔥💧

📘 Basic Things to Know

Sodium is most commonly found in the form of sodium chloride (NaCl) — which is table salt. 🧂
It plays an essential role in the human body, helping with nerve function and fluid balance.

Even though sodium metal is dangerous, sodium ions (Na⁺) are safe and important for our health.

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Sodium was the first element isolated by electrolysis from molten salt. ⚡
• It’s so soft you can cut it with a knife, but it must be stored in oil to stop it from reacting with air.
• Sodium is highly flammable and can explode if mixed with water under the right conditions. 💥
• It gives a bright yellow flame when burned — used in street lamps and flame tests. 🌕
• The “Na” symbol comes from the Latin word “Natrium”, an old name for sodium compounds.

🔧 Common Uses

• Table Salt: Combined with chlorine to make NaCl, essential for food and health. 🍽️
• Street Lighting: Sodium vapor lamps produce bright yellow light often used in roads. 🚦
• Chemical Industry: Used in making glass, paper, soap, and textiles.
• Metallurgy: Used in extracting other metals and purifying molten metals.
• Coolant: Liquid sodium is used in some nuclear reactors due to its heat-conducting properties. ⚙️

📚 Conclusion

Sodium is a powerful and essential element — explosive as a pure metal but safe and vital in its common forms like salt. It keeps our bodies working properly and lights up our streets at night. For students, sodium shows the exciting balance between chemistry in nature and chemistry in the lab. ⚖️🧠