This is the lanthanides, elements 57 through 71 - lanthanum (La) to lutetium (Lu). Lanthanides: The third group is much too long to fit into the third column, so it is broken out and flipped sideways to become the top row of the island that floats at the bottom of the table. Their chemical reactions typically occur more slowly and produce less heat compared to the alkali metals. But they're not as reactive as the alkali metals. Each of these elements has two electrons in its outermost energy level, which makes the alkaline earths reactive enough that they're rarely found alone in nature. Hydrogen, with its single electron, also lives in Group 1, but the gas is considered a nonmetal.Īlkaline-earth metals: The alkaline-earth metals make up Group 2 of the periodic table, from beryllium (Be) through radium (Ra). They are also extremely reactive and will burst into flame or even explode on contact with water, so chemists store them in oils or inert gases. Shiny and soft enough to cut with a knife, these metals start with lithium (Li) and end with francium (Fr). Salt overdose is possible, in 2013, doctors reported on the case of a 19-year-old man who went into a coma after chugging a bottle of soy sauce.The periodic table of elements is arranged into several broad groups (Image credit: Future) Groups of the Periodic tableĪlkali metals: The alkali metals make up most of Group 1, the table's first column.Sodium metal doesn’t burn when it comes in contact with water but produces hydrogen, which gives the impression that the sodium is burning.Sodium is used in fireworks to produce bright yellow sparks. Sodium burns with a bright yellow light.Sodium is an essential part of the human diet and is usually ingested through the compound sodium chloride (common salt), however too much salt in a diet can not only raise an individual's blood pressure but also become poisonous, which could lead to seizures, coma and death. When pure sodium makes contact with water it forms hydrogen, which burns violently and it would therefore probably result in death if swallowed by a human or animal. Pure sodium metal is highly reactive and should never be brought near water or any moist surface (like your mouth for instance) without the proper protection. He found the element by isolating it from caustic soda using electrolysis Sir Humphry Davy, a British chemist, discovered sodium in 1807. Salt and other sodium-containing compounds have been used long before the discovery of the element sodium. In theory, sodium could be recycled and reused, but there is no economic reason to recycle sodium since it is naturally recycled back into the earth's crust and water. Ordinary seawater contains a high percentage of sodium and there is currently no indication that we will be running out of sodium any time soon. Metallic sodium is priced at about 15 to 20 cents per pound and is the cheapest of the light metals. Sodium is now produced commercially through the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride, based on a process patented in 1924. It is the most abundant of the alkali group of metals and appears in nature as common salt, which forms the mineral halite, which is about 80% of the dissolved constituents in seawater. Sodium is the fourth most abundant element on earth, comprising about 2.6% of the earth's crust. Most likely the second most useful compound is sodium carbonate, also known as washing soda, which is used as a water softener.īaking soda also contains sodium and is used in cooking. The most common sodium compound is sodium chloride, which is normal table salt, used on food and to throw on iced roads. Sodium is also used as a reagent in the chemical industry.īut the uses for sodium compounds are much greater than that of pure sodium metal. Liquid sodium is used as a heat exchanger in nuclear power plants. Pure sodium is used in the production of titanium. Similar to lithium, sodium is usually stored in a closed container in kerosene or mineral oil, to prevent or limit the reaction with oxygen in the air. Sodium is a soft silver-white metal, with a similar appearance to lithium. Pure sodium will cause a violent exothermal reaction when it comes into contact with water. But the element behind these compounds is much less innocent. Sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate are compounds used daily in every household. Sodium is the wonderful metal in common table salt, but did you know it floats on water?
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