Where is sodium found in nature

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Subjects Sodium. References 1 Gmelin, L. Google Scholar 2 Kirchhoff, G. Article Google Scholar 3 Daniel, J. Google Scholar 4 Ma, Y. Author information Affiliations Margit S. Rights and permissions Reprints and Permissions. The sun and many other stars shine with visible light in which the yellow component dominates and this is given out by sodium atoms in a high-energy state.

Sodium is a compound of many foodstuffs, for instance of common salt. It is necessary for humans to maintain the balance of the physical fluids system. Sodium is also required for nerve and muscle functioning. Too much sodium can damage our kidneys and increases the chances of high blood pressure. Sodium is essential, but controversely surrounds the amount required. Contact of sodium with water, including perspiration causes the formation of sodium hydroxide fumes, which are highly irritating to skin, eyes, nose and throat.

This may cause sneezing and coughing. Very severe exposures may result in difficult breathing, coughing and chemical bronchitis. Contact to the skin may cause itching, tingling, thermal and caustic burns and permanent damage. Contact with eyes may result in permanent damage and loss of sight. What's in a name? From the English word soda and from the Medieval Latin word sodanum , which means "headache remedy.

Although sodium is the sixth most abundant element on earth and comprises about 2. Since sodium can ignite on contact with water, it must be stored in a moisture free environment. All such documents and related graphics are provided "as is" without any representation or endorsement made and warranty of any kind, whether expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy. In no event shall the RSC be liable for any damages including, without limitation, indirect or consequential damages, or any damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use, data or profits, whether in action of contract, negligence or other tortious action, arising out of or in connection with the use of the material available from this Site.

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Jump to main content. Periodic Table. Glossary Allotropes Some elements exist in several different structural forms, called allotropes.

Glossary Group A vertical column in the periodic table. Fact box. Group 1 Melting point Glossary Image explanation Murray Robertson is the artist behind the images which make up Visual Elements. Appearance The description of the element in its natural form. Biological role The role of the element in humans, animals and plants. Natural abundance Where the element is most commonly found in nature, and how it is sourced commercially. Uses and properties. Image explanation.

The two lines in a circle represents sodium, and is one of the element symbols developed by John Dalton in the 19th century. Sodium is a soft metal that tarnishes within seconds of being exposed to the air.

It also reacts vigorously with water. Sodium is used as a heat exchanger in some nuclear reactors, and as a reagent in the chemicals industry. But sodium salts have more uses than the metal itself. The most common compound of sodium is sodium chloride common salt.

It is added to food and used to de-ice roads in winter. It is also used as a feedstock for the chemical industry. Biological role. Sodium is essential to all living things, and humans have known this since prehistoric times. Our bodies contain about grams, but we are constantly losing sodium in different ways so we need to replace it. We can get all the sodium we need from our food, without adding any extra.

The average person eats about 10 grams of salt a day, but all we really need is about 3 grams. Any extra sodium may contribute to high blood pressure. Sodium is important for many different functions of the human body. For example, it helps cells to transmit nerve signals and regulate water levels in tissues and blood.

Natural abundance. Sodium is the sixth most common element on Earth, and makes up 2. The most common compound is sodium chloride. It is also found in many minerals including cryolite, zeolite and sodalite. Because sodium is so reactive it is never found as the metal in nature. Sodium metal is produced by electrolysis of dry molten sodium chloride. Help text not available for this section currently. Elements and Periodic Table History.

Salt sodium chloride, NaCl and soda sodium carbonate, Na 2 CO 3 had been known since prehistoric times, the former used as a flavouring and preservative, and the latter for glass manufacture. Salt came from seawater, while soda came from the Natron Valley in Egypt or from the ash of certain plants. Their composition was debated by early chemists and the solution finally came from the Royal Institution in London in October where Humphry Davy exposed caustic soda sodium hydroxide, NaOH to an electric current and obtained globules of sodium metal, just as he had previously done for potassium, although he needed to use a stronger current.

Atomic data. Glossary Common oxidation states The oxidation state of an atom is a measure of the degree of oxidation of an atom. Oxidation states and isotopes. Glossary Data for this section been provided by the British Geological Survey. Relative supply risk An integrated supply risk index from 1 very low risk to 10 very high risk. Recycling rate The percentage of a commodity which is recycled. Substitutability The availability of suitable substitutes for a given commodity.

Reserve distribution The percentage of the world reserves located in the country with the largest reserves. Political stability of top producer A percentile rank for the political stability of the top producing country, derived from World Bank governance indicators. Political stability of top reserve holder A percentile rank for the political stability of the country with the largest reserves, derived from World Bank governance indicators.

Supply risk. Young's modulus A measure of the stiffness of a substance. Shear modulus A measure of how difficult it is to deform a material. Bulk modulus A measure of how difficult it is to compress a substance. Vapour pressure A measure of the propensity of a substance to evaporate. Pressure and temperature data — advanced. Listen to Sodium Podcast Transcript :. You're listening to Chemistry in its element brought to you by Chemistry World , the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Sodium, like most elements in the periodic table could be said to have a dual personality.