Periodic table / Sodium

Overview

Sodium /ˈsoʊdiəm/ is a chemical element with symbol Na (from Ancient Greek Νάτριο) and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silver-white, highly reactive metal. In the Periodic table it is in column 1 (alkali metals), and shares with the other six elements in that column that it has a single electron in its outer shell, which it readily donates, creating a positively charged atom - a cation.

Electron configuration

The electron configuration of Sodium is [Ne] 3s1, with electron shells of 2, 8, 1.

Physical and chemical properties

Sodium is classified as a alkali metal. It has an atomic mass of 22.99 and exists as a solid at standard conditions, appearing as silvery white metallic.

Real-world uses of Sodium

Like other alkali metals, Sodium is highly reactive and is mainly studied and used in chemical research, battery technology, and specialized industrial compounds rather than in its pure metallic form.

Interesting facts about Sodium

• Sodium has the atomic number 11 and chemical symbol Na.
• It belongs to period 3, group 1 of the periodic table.
• Sodium was discovered by Humphry Davy.

Explore Sodium interactively

Want to compare Sodium with other elements or see it highlighted on the full table? Open the interactive periodic table and click on Na to explore properties, trends, and neighboring elements. You can also test your knowledge with our periodic table quiz game.