(Eng. soda;Medieval Latin,sodanum,headache remedy) First isolated by Davy in 1807. Abundant in the sun and other stars, it is the sixth most abundant element on earth. Most common compound is sodium chloride, salt. Sodium is not found free in nature. Less dense than water it, floats on water as well as decomposing quickly forming hydrogen gas and hydroxide.
Common compounds include baking soda,sodium hydroxide, borax.
metallic sodium is used in the preparation of organic compounds, to improve the structure of alloys, important to paper,glass,soap,textile, petroleum industries.