Sodium Element Information, Facts, Properties, Trends, Uses, Comparison with other elements
Sodium /ˈsoʊdiəm/ is a chemical element with symbol Na (from Ancient Greek Νάτριο) and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silver-white, highly reactive metal. In the Periodic table it is in column 1 (alkali metals), and shares with the other six elements in that column that it has a single electron in its outer shell, which it readily donates, creating a positively charged atom - a cation.
It belongs to group 1 of the periodic table having trivial name alkali metals*. You can also download Printable Periodic Table of Elements Flashcards for Sodium in a PDF format.
Sodium Facts
Read key information and facts about element Sodium
| Name | Sodium |
| Atomic Number | 11 |
| Atomic Symbol | Na |
| Atomic Weight | 22.98977 |
| Phase | Solid |
| Color | Silver |
| Appearance | silvery white metallic |
| Classification | Alkali Metal |
| Natural Occurance | Primordial |
| Group in Periodic Table | 1 |
| Group Name | lithium family |
| Period in Periodic Table | period 3 |
| Block in Periodic Table | s-block |
| Electronic Configuration | [Ne] 3s1 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 1 |
| Melting Point | 370.87 K |
| Boiling Point | 1156 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7440-23-5 |
How to Locate Sodium on Periodic Table
Periodic table is arranged by atomic number, number of protons in the nucleus which is same as number of electrons. The atomic number increases from left to right. Periodic table starts at top left ( Atomic number 1) and ends at bottom right (atomic number 118). Therefore you can directly look for atomic number 11 to find Sodium on periodic table.
Another way to read periodic table and locate an element is by using group number (column) and period number (row). To locate Sodium on periodic table look for cross section of group 1 and period 3 in the modern periodic table.
Sodium History
The element Sodium was discovered by H. Davy in year 1807 in United Kingdom. Sodium was first isolated by H. Davy in 1807. Sodium derived its name from the English word soda (natrium in Latin).
| Discovered By | H. Davy |
| Discovery Date | 1807 in United Kingdom |
| First Isolation | 1807 |
| Isolated by | H. Davy |
Andreas Sigismund Marggraf recognised the difference between soda ash and potash in 1758. Davy discovered sodium a few days after potassium, by using electrolysis onsodium hydroxide.
Sodium Uses
Sodium is used in streetlights to produce yellow light. It is also used as a component in many compounds like table salt, soda ash, borax, and baking soda.
Sodium Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
The table below shows the abundance of Sodium in Universe, Sun, Meteorites, Earth's Crust, Oceans and Human Body.
| ppb by weight (1ppb =10^-7 %) | ppb by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %) | |
|---|---|---|
| Abundance in Universe | 20000 | 1000 |
| Abundance in Sun | 40000 | 2000 |
| Abundance in Meteorites | 5600000 | 4800000 |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 23000000 | 21000000 |
| Abundance in Oceans | 11050000 | 2970000 |
| Abundance in Humans | 1400000 | 380000 |
Crystal Structure of Sodium
The solid state structure of Sodium is Body Centered Cubic.
The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.
Unit Cell Parameters
The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a, b and c)
| a | b | c |
|---|---|---|
| 429.06 pm | 429.06 pm | 429.06 pm |
and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).
| alpha | beta | gamma |
|---|---|---|
| π/2 | π/2 | π/2 |
The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( xi, yi, zi) measured from a reference lattice point.
The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct.
| Space Group Name | Im_ 3m |
| Space Group Number | 229 |
| Crystal Structure | Body Centered Cubic |
| Number of atoms per unit cell | 2 |
The number of atoms per unit cell in a simple cubic, face-centered cubic and body-centred cubic are 1,4,2 respectively.
Sodium Atomic and Orbital Properties
Sodium atoms have 11 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 1] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) 2S1/2.
| Atomic Number | 11 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 11 |
| Number of Protons | 11 |
| Mass Number | 23 |
| Number of Neutrons | 12 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 1 |
| Electron Configuration | [Ne] 3s1 |
| Valence Electrons | 3s1 |
| Valence (Valency) | 1 |
| Main Oxidation States | 1 |
| Oxidation States | -1, 1 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 2S1/2 |
Bohr Atomic Model of Sodium - Electrons per energy level
| n | s | p | d | f |
|---|
Ground State Electronic Configuration of Sodium - neutral Sodium atom
Abbreviated electronic configuration of Sodium
The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Sodium atom is [Ne] 3s1. The portion of Sodium configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Ne]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used. This is important as it is the Valence electrons 3s1, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.
Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Sodium
Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Sodium atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
Electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the order determined by the Aufbau principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule.
As per the Aufbau principle the electrons will occupy the orbitals having lower energies before occupying higher energy orbitals. According to this principle, electrons are filled in the following order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p…
The Pauli exclusion principle states that a maximum of two electrons, each having opposite spins, can fit in an orbital.
Hund's rule states that every orbital in a given subshell is singly occupied by electrons before a second electron is filled in an orbital.
Atomic Structure of Sodium
Sodium atomic radius is 190 pm, while it's covalent radius is 154 pm.
| Atomic Radius Calculated | 190 pm(1.9 Å) |
| Atomic Radius Empirical | 180 pm (1.8 Å) |
| Atomic Volume | 23.75 cm3/mol |
| Covalent Radius | 154 pm (1.54 Å) |
| Van der Waals Radius | 227 pm |
| Neutron Cross Section | 0.53 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | 0.0007 |
Spectral Lines of Sodium - Atomic Spectrum of Sodium
A spectral line is a dark or bright line in an otherwise uniform and continuous spectrum, resulting from an excess or deficiency of photons in a narrow frequency range, compared with the nearby frequencies. Spectral lines are often used to identify atoms and molecules.
Spectral lines are the result of interaction between a quantum system and a single photon. A spectral line may be observed either as an emission line or an absorption line.
Spectral lines are highly atom-specific, and can be used to identify the chemical composition of any medium. Several elements, including helium, thallium, and caesium, were discovered by spectroscopic means. They are widely used to determine the physical conditions of stars and other celestial bodies that cannot be analyzed by other means.
Emission spectrum of Sodium
Absorption spectrum of Sodium
Sodium Chemical Properties: Sodium Ionization Energies and electron affinity
The electron affinity of Sodium is 52.8 kJ/mol.
| Valence | 1 |
| Electronegativity | 0.93 |
| ElectronAffinity | 52.8 kJ/mol |
Ionization Energy of Sodium
Ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom or molecule.in chemistry, this energy is expresed in kilocalories per mole (kcal/mol) or kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).
Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Sodium
| Ionization energy number | Enthalpy - kJ/mol |
|---|---|
| 1st | 495.8 |
| 2nd | 4562 |
| 3rd | 6910.3 |
| 4th | 9543 |
| 5th | 13354 |
| 6th | 16613 |
| 7th | 20117 |
| 8th | 25496 |
| 9th | 28932 |
| 10th | 141362 |
| 11th | 159076 |
Sodium Physical Properties
Refer to below table for Sodium Physical Properties
| Density | 0.968 g/cm3(when liquid at m.p density is $0.927 g/cm3) |
| Molar Volume | 23.75 cm3/mol |
Elastic Properties
| Young Modulus | 10 |
| Shear Modulus | 3.3 GPa |
| Bulk Modulus | 6.3 GPa |
| Poisson Ratio | - |
Hardness of Sodium - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element
| Mohs Hardness | 0.5 MPa |
| Vickers Hardness | - |
| Brinell Hardness | 0.69 MPa |
Sodium Electrical Properties
Electrical resistivity measures element's electrical resistance or how strongly it resists electric current.The SI unit of electrical resistivity is the ohm-metre (Ω⋅m). While Electrical conductivity is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity. It represents a element's ability to conduct electric current. The SI unit of electrical conductivity is siemens per metre (S/m).
Sodium is a conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties of Sodium
| Electrical conductors | Conductor |
| Electrical Conductivity | 21000000 S/m |
| Resistivity | 4.7e-8 m Ω |
| Superconducting Point | - |
Sodium Heat and Conduction Properties
| Thermal Conductivity | 140 W/(m K) |
| Thermal Expansion | 0.000071 /K |
Sodium Magnetic Properties
| Magnetic Type | Paramagnetic |
| Curie Point | - |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | 8.8e-9 m3/kg |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | 2e-10 m3/mol |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | 0.0000085 |
Optical Properties of Sodium
| Refractive Index | - |
Acoustic Properties of Sodium
| Speed of Sound | 3200 m/s |
Sodium Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Sodium
| Melting Point | 370.87 K(97.72 °C, 207.896 °F) |
| Boiling Point | 1156 K(882.85 °C, 1621.130 °F) |
| Critical Temperature | 2573 K |
| Superconducting Point | - |
Enthalpies of Sodium
| Heat of Fusion | 2.6 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 97.7 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Combustion | - |
Sodium Isotopes - Nuclear Properties of Sodium
Sodium has 20 isotopes, with between 18 and 37 nucleons. Sodium has 1 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
Isotopes of Sodium - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 23Na.
| Isotope | Z | N | Isotope Mass | % Abundance | T half | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18Na | 11 | 7 | 18 | Synthetic | ||
| 19Na | 11 | 8 | 19 | Synthetic | ||
| 20Na | 11 | 9 | 20 | Synthetic | ||
| 21Na | 11 | 10 | 21 | Synthetic | ||
| 22Na | 11 | 11 | 22 | Synthetic | ||
| 23Na | 11 | 12 | 23 | 100% | Stable | |
| 24Na | 11 | 13 | 24 | Synthetic | ||
| 25Na | 11 | 14 | 25 | Synthetic | ||
| 26Na | 11 | 15 | 26 | Synthetic | ||
| 27Na | 11 | 16 | 27 | Synthetic | ||
| 28Na | 11 | 17 | 28 | Synthetic | ||
| 29Na | 11 | 18 | 29 | Synthetic | ||
| 30Na | 11 | 19 | 30 | Synthetic | ||
| 31Na | 11 | 20 | 31 | Synthetic | ||
| 32Na | 11 | 21 | 32 | Synthetic | ||
| 33Na | 11 | 22 | 33 | Synthetic | ||
| 34Na | 11 | 23 | 34 | Synthetic | ||
| 35Na | 11 | 24 | 35 | Synthetic | ||
| 36Na | 11 | 25 | 36 | Synthetic | ||
| 37Na | 11 | 26 | 37 | Synthetic |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) identifies hazard class of all dangerous elements/goods/commodities either by its class (or division) number or name. The DOT has divided these materials into nine different categories, known as Hazard Classes.
| DOT Numbers | 1428 |
| DOT Hazard Class | 4.3 |
NFPA 704 is a Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. NFPA is a standard maintained by the US based National Fire Protection Association.
The health (blue), flammability (red), and reactivity (yellow) rating all use a numbering scale ranging from 0 to 4. A value of zero means that the element poses no hazard; a rating of four indicates extreme danger.
| NFPA Fire Rating | 3 | Flash Points below 37.8°C (100°F) |
| NFPA Health Rating | 3 | Flash Points below 37.8°C (100°F) |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | 2 | Flash Points Above 37.8°C (100°F) not exceeding 93.3°C (200°F) |
| NFPA Hazards | Water Reactive |
| Autoignition Point | 115 °C |
| Flashpoint | 4 °C |
Database Search
List of unique identifiers to search the element in various chemical registry databases
| Database | Identifier number |
|---|---|
| CAS Number - Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) | CAS7440-23-5 |
| RTECS Number | RTECSVY0686000 |
| CID Number | CID5360545 |
| Gmelin Number | - |
| NSC Number | - |
Compare Sodium with other elements
Compare Sodium with Group 1, Period 3 and Alkali Metal elements of the periodic table.
Compare Sodium with all Group 1 elements
Compare Sodium with all Period 3 elements
Compare Sodium with all Alkali Metal elements
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Sodium