Major Properties of Sodium - Essay Example

SODIUM A. What is Sodium? In order to understand what sodium is all about, it is important to discuss its physical properties, chemical properties and other related information. Discovery Humphry Davy discovered sodium in 1807 after his discovery of potassium (Senese, par. 2). The electrolysis of caustic soda (NaOH) paved way to the discovery of sodium (Gagnon, par. 3). The discovery of sodium was not alone as an element but as a compound joining with other essential elements. It was through chemical means that sodium was successfully separated from combining other essential elements. Physical Properties Sodium is one of the most commonly known elements found in the periodic table. Found in Encyclopedia Britannica (sodium, par. 1), the following are basic information about sodium as an element in the periodic table. It is one of the alkali metals having a chemical symbol “Na” with atomic number 11. Sodium is soft and silvery white metal in color. Aside from one of the most abundant elements in the planet, sodium in nature belongs to halite group which means it is highly reactive. Aside from its silvery-white color, sodium is also waxy in appearance, can easily be cut by a knife because it is soft, it reacts with oxygen once exposed to air and forms sodium oxide film (Chemistry Explained, par. 1-60). This is the reason why a bright and shiny surface of sodium once cut lacks luster because the sodium oxide film covers the metal. (Picture taken from: http://jpkc.whut.edu.cn/web18/main/wangluo/webelements/webelements/elements/text/na/key.html). According to Resusch (par. 5), the atom of sodium has only one electron in its valence shell that at times when it losses it, it will result to lower shell valence octet which further results to obtaining a positively charged atom. Sodiums’ atomic mass is 22.98 (Chemistry Explained, par. 1-60). Sodium’s melting point is 97.82°C, boiling point of 881.4°C, density of 0.968 grams per cubic centimeter and since it is a metal, it excellently conducts electricity (Chemistry Explained, par. 1-60). At 298 0K, sodium is at its solid state (Winter, par. 1-8). Chemical Properties As discussed in the website of Chemistry Explained (par. 1-60), the following are important and basic chemical properties of sodium. 1. As an active element, sodium actively combines with oxygen at room temperature and once it is ignited, it produces flame which is brilliant and golden yellow in color. 2. Sodium and water react violently with each other. 3. Sodium also reacts with other elements and compounds. Once sodium reacts with acid, it produces hydrogen gas. It can also be dissolved in other metallic elements such as mercury to create an alloy such as amalgam. Isotopes In the periodic table of elements, it can be observed that the number of protons is what actually tries to determine a certain element among any other. However, the number of neutrons in an atom varies and this variation is considered an isotope (Chemistry Explained, par. 1-60). Therefore if an element is having forms of more than one, then its other forms are considered isotopes. In the case of sodium, it has one naturally occurring isotopes which is sodium-23 and it has six radioactive isotopes, which break apart and give off radiation (Chemistry Explained, par. 1-60). B. Usage of sodium in everyday life Sodium ion is very important to life. In biology, it is important for the transmission of nerve impulses and maintaining osmotic processes (BBC, par. 2). Aside from its being known to be used in the production of titanium, sodamide, sodium cyanide, sodium peroxide and sodium hydride, the other phases of sodium such as liquid sodium can be used as coolant for nuclear reactors and the sodium vapor is used in streetlights to illuminate the street with its yellow light (Gagnon, par. 4). As mentioned earlier, there are six familiar isotopes for sodium and the two of them which are sodium-22 and sodium-24 are currently used in medicine and other applications such as tracer of sodium in the person’s body (Chemistry Explained, par. 1-60). This works when the isotope is injected to the body, it gives off radiation in which it can be detected by a certain instrument. The other non-medical application of sodium-24 is for testing leaks in oil pipes lines (Chemistry Explained, par. 1-60). As known, it is hard to tell if the oil pipes are leaking especially if they are buried. One of the ways to know if pipes are leaking is to add some sodium in the oil. This ensures that leaks can be detected since it is easy to detect sodium-24 once it leaks together with oil by using a detector that will be able to detect radiation. C. Compounds formed by sodium There are many compounds formed by sodium. In fact, it is hard to see sodium as an element in nature since it is very reactive and it combines with other elements to form a compound. In fact, the first discovery of sodium was when it combined with hydrogen and oxygen to form sodium hydroxide. Thus, sodium hydroxide is one of the most common compounds formed by sodium. The other sodium in compounds include bicarbonate of soda, caustic soda, sodium nitrate, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium hypochlorite and sulfate (Encyclopedia Britannica, sodium, par. 1). Sodium silicate (BBC, par. 2), sodium fluoride, sodium ascorbate, sodium benzoate and many more are added to the list. Sodium hydroxide is created by combining sodium, oxygen and hydrogen to form NaOH. Bicarbonate of soda is created by chemically combining one atom of sodium, one atom of hydrogen and three atoms of carbon dioxide to form NaHCO3. Sodium ascorbate is formed by combining six atoms of carbon, seven atoms of hydrogen, six atoms of oxygen and one atom of sodium to form C6H7O6Na. Combining one atom of sodium, one atom of nitrogen and three atoms of oxygen creates NaNO3 or known as sodium nitrate. One atom of sodium and one atom of Chloride will create sodium chloride or NaCl. One atom of carbon, one atom of hydrogen, one atom of sodium and three atoms of oxygen will create CHNaO3 or known as sodium carbonate. One atom of sodium, one atom of Chloride plus one atom of oxygen will create NaClO or known as sodium hypochlorite. Sulfate is formed by combining two atoms of sodium, one atom of sulfur and four atoms of oxygen creating Na2SO4. Combining one atom of sodium and one atom of fluoride creates sodium fluoride or NaF. Sodium benzoate is formed by combining seven atoms of carbon, five atoms of hydrogen, one atom of sodium and two atoms of oxygen thus crating C7H5NaO2. D. Everyday usage of compound formed by sodium From Encyclopedia Britannica (sodium, par. 1), there are many applications of compound produced by sodium. The following are as follow. Sodium carbonate is used in making glass, detergents and cleansers. Sodium hypochlorite is known as household bleach, and for paper bleach pulp and textiles, to chlorinate water and other medicinal usage. Sulfate is for kraft process and for paperboard, glass and detergents. Finally, the thiosulfate is for the development of photographs. Sodium compounds such as sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium sulphates and sodium silicates find their uses as very essential industrial chemicals (BBC, par. 2). The following are other common applications of some of sodium compounds (Rushin and Weaver). Sodium chloride is widely known as table salt, a very important compound for both household and industrial uses. Sodium carbonate is used as washing soda while sodium bicarbonate as baking soda. For fillers for salt and in detergents, sodium silicates are widely used. In the manufacturing of paper, soap, rayon, oil refining and applications in textile and rubber industries, sodium hydroxide is in demand. The other name for borax is sodium tetraborate. Sodium fluoride is used in antibiotic, rat poison and in ceramics. E. Conclusion It is a fact that sodium is a very important element on earth. Its application is very important and it can be further appreciated once it combines with other essential elements to form another important compound with practical usages from home to industrial. References BBC. Chemistry of the Group 1 Elements - Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, F 2010. 22 June, 2010. . Chemistry Explained. 2010. 22 June, 2010. . Gagnon, Steve. It’s elemental. 2010. 22 June, 2010. . Reusch, William. Virtual Textbook of Organic Chemistry. 1999. 22 June, 2010. . Rushin and T. Weaver Uses for Sodium. 2010. 22 June, 2010. . Senese, Fred. Who discovered potassium and sodium? 2010. 22 June, 2010. . “sodium.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopedia Britannica 2006 CD. 22 June 2010. Winter, Mark. Sodium. 18 April, 2004. 22 June, 2010. . Read More