Sodium

Jessica Name: Na Sodium Address: 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1 Numbers: 11, 22.990

Objective: I would like to work in the field of culinary arts. I would especially enjoy being used to make table salt. Though I need to be combined with chlorine to fulfill this job, it is a job that needs to be done for the happiness of the human race, so I am willing to do it. Before the 18th century, there was no distinction between potassium and I, because early chemists did not recognize that "vegetable alkali" and "mineral alkali” are distinct from each other. I was first isolated in 1807 by Sir Humphry Davy. He did this by using the electrolysis of very dry molten sodium hydroxide. Thenard and Gay-Lussac isolated me by reducing sodium hydroxide with iron metal at high temperatures. I come from the English word soda and from the Medieval Latin word sodanum, which means "headache remedy." My chemical symbol comes from the Latin word for sodium carbonate, natrium.

Honors and Awards: I am the sixth most abundant element on earth and comprise about 2.6% of the earth's crust. I am a very reactive element and am never found free in nature. When I am in my metallic form, I am used in the production of titanium, sodamide, sodium cyanide, sodium peroxide, and sodium hydride. When I am in the liquid state, I am used as a coolant for nuclear reactors. When I am in the vapor state, I am used in streetlights and produce a brilliant yellow light. I also form many useful compounds and products that can be used by humans in many situations. I combine with chlorine, because it is important for animal nutrition. Compounds that I help form are used in the glass, soap, paper, textile, chemical, petroleum, and metal industries. I am used in preparing tetraethyl lead. I am used in the reduction of organic esters and the preparation of organic compounds. When I am a metal, I may be used to improve the structure of some alloys, to decal metal, and to purify molten metals. I am an important heat transfer agent.

Experience and Skills: In medieval Europe a compound of me with the Latin name of sodanum was used as a headache remedy. My name probably originated from the Arabic word suda, which means headache. Hydrated sodium carbonate historically had several important industrial and household uses later eclipsed by soda ash, baking soda and other sodium compounds. Chlorine and I make salt, which has been an important commodity in human activities.

References: • Chlorine- without me, chlorine would not be able to make sodium chloride, or table salt • Hydrogen- without me, hydrogen would not be able to manufacture soap and paper • Sulfur- without me, sulfur would not be able to manufacture glass and detergent

Citations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele011.html http://www.webelements.com/sodium/history.html http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/sodium.htm http://science.jrank.org/pages/6220/Sodium-Compounds-sodium.html http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/na.html