![]() ![]() Thus, although elemental sodium bears semblance to a small rock, it is soft enough to be cut by a blunt knife. While working in the lab, students and lab assistants are expected to take the piece of elemental sodium out of the kerosene and cut a small piece with the knife.The best way to store sodium safely is by immersing it into liquid hydrocarbons, such as kerosene. Among the many interesting facts about sodium, one is that the sodium element is highly reactive, which makes the storage of pure sodium a Herculean task.Sodium is the fourth most abundant element and makes up almost 2.6% of the Earth’s crust.When sodium is brought in contact with water, it explodes, forming sodium hydroxide along with the release of a large amount of heat.Sodium cannot exist freely in nature and when brought in contact with air, readily oxidizes and forms oxides.Sodium has 13 isotopes, of which only one isotope is stable.The density of alkali metals increases with increase in atomic number, however, sodium unlike the other alkali metals has a higher density as compared to potassium.Since the valence of sodium is +1, it donates this single electron during chemical reactions, to form bonds. The atomic mass of the element sodium is 23, and the atomic number is 11. It has a bright luster, however, this luster disappears when exposed to air. Sodium is a soft, silvery-white colored element, which can be cut with a knife at room temperature. Its symbol, Na, comes from the Latin name ‘natrium’, which is a common sodium compound. Sodium was first isolated in 1807, by Sir Humphrey Davy through the electrolysis of caustic soda. ![]()
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