Sodium
Sodium, the eleventh element, has an atomic mass of 22.98977 amu, a density of
0.97 g/cm3, and electron levels of 2-8-1. As an alkali metal, it has a valence of
+1. Na was discovered in 1807 by Sir Humphry Davy of England. It melts at 371.0 K, and boils at 1156 K. Na is highly reactive, and creates violent
explosions when exposed to water. This makes Na very dangerous when improperly handled.
Na compounds are used in making ceramics, water softeners, soaps, petroleum refining,
nuclear reactor coolants, and as reactive catalysts. Na is fairly abundant in stars, and
is never found free in nature. It is a bright, silvery metal which normally does not
ignite in air at temperatures below 115 degrees C.
Sodium's electronegativity is 0.93.
Na's electron configuration is [Ne]3s1.
June 19, 1997, updated August 7, 1998
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