Sodium

Sodium is an element. It is found in Group I of the Periodic table, the alkali metals. Sodium has a low density which is less than water and is very soft. You can cut sodium with a knife.

The chemical formula of sodium is Na. The symbol is dervived from the Latin name natrium.

Sodium reacts violently with water producing hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide.

Sodium and water ==> hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide

2Na + 2H₂O ==> H₂ + 2NaOH

Sodium metal is stored in paraffin oil to prevent it from reacting with mositure from the air.

Sodium metal is easily oxidized and forms the sodium ion, Na⁺ when it reacts with other substances. This sodium ion is highly soluble in water and produces a distinctive yellow/ orange flame and emission spectral line when viewed with a spectrophotometer.This is caused by excited electrons in the sodium falling back to a lower energy level an emitting light energy in the process.