Symbol

Na

Atomic Number

11

Atomic Mass

22.98977

Family

Group 1 (Ia) Alkali Metal Pronunciation

SO-dee-um

Overview

Most people have never seen sodium metal. But it is almost impossible not to see many compounds of sodium every day. Ordinary table salt, baking soda, baking powder, household lye (such as Drano), soaps and detergents, aspirin and other drugs, and countless other consumer products are sodium products.

Sodium is a member of the alkali metals family. The alkali family consists of elements in Group 1 (IA) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to one another. Other Group 1 (IA) elements are lithium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium. The members of the alkali metals family are among the most active elements.

Compounds of sodium have been known, of course, throughout human history. But sodium metal was not prepared until 1807. The reason is that sodium attaches...