Sodium

Sodium is a soft, silvery coloured metal which, like other members of the alkali group of metals, is extremely reactive. Molten sodium is used as a heat exchanger in certain types of nuclear reactors and as a reagent in the chemicals industry. Some of the sodium salts (e.g. NaCl and NaCO₃) are more important than the metal itself due to the variety of applications for which they can be used.

Sodium Chloride

Trade name: Table salt

Chemical formula: NaCl

Sodium Monoxide

Chemical name: Sodium oxide

Chemical formula: Na₂O

Sodium Oxide

Trade name: Sodium monoxide

Chemical formula: Na₂O

Sodium Sulphate

Trade name: Glauber's salt

Chemical formula: Na₂SO₄10H₂O

Sodium Tetraborate

Trade name: Borax

Chemical formula: Na₂B₄O₇10H₂O

Sodium Thiosulphate

Trade name: Fixing salt

Chemical formula: Na₂S₂O₃5H₂O

See also: Chemical Table.