Sodium Uses - What is Sodium Used for

Sodium, is a silvery metal and is highly reactive. As sodium violently reacts with air, it is not found freely in nature. It is obtained from dry fused sodium chloride through electrolysis. Sodium, the element is abundantly found on the earth and also occurs in minerals like cryolite, zeolite and amphibole. Belonging to the alkali group of metals, sodium constitutes 2.6% of the earth's crust.

Sodium Uses - Common Uses of Sodium

What is sodium used for? Sodium itself has very few uses as it is a reactive element. Metallic sodium is crucial in the manufacturing of organic compounds. Metallic sodium is used to remove impurities from molten metals. Its ability to purify molten metals has made it very popular. The process of manufacturing titanium metals from TiCl₄, primarily uses sodium. Metals like potassium and zirconium can be separated from their compounds using sodium. In order to descale metals (the process to smoothen its surface), certain alloys require improvement in their structure. This can be effectively done by metallic sodium. Sodium as well as its alloys with potassium are heat transfer agents. A chemical heat transfer unit often uses alloys of sodium. Sodium is an important substance for making artificial rubber. When it comes to reduction of organic esters, the first choice is metallic sodium. It is also used in the preparation of sodium peroxide, sodamide and sodium hydride, that have varied industrial applications

Uses of Sodium Compounds

Although sodium uses are limited, its compounds have a wide range of uses. Various industries including petroleum, chemicals, soaps, textiles and paper have found sodium compounds extremely beneficial for their processes. Soap is basically composed of sodium salts of various fatty acids. The most widely used sodium compound is sodium chloride. Many people are unaware of how is sodium used today. The answer to this question is that it is used most commonly in the form of salt (sodium chloride), which enhances the taste of food products. In order to improve the flavor of various food items such as cheese and bread, use of sodium chloride is the best option, as without salt, the food does not taste good. Sodium chloride is used as a preservative in dairy products, meat and other food items. This is because sodium chloride protects the food from microorganisms and ensures that the food is preserved for quite some time. The 'salting' or 'pickling' of food prevents it from spoiling. Iodized salt is essential for the body as it helps in the production of thyroid hormones which affects growth and metabolic rates. It is also an active ingredient of various medicines. Sodium chloride injections are administered to people with low sodium and chlorine levels. Studies have revealed that sodium is also essential for animal nutrition. Baking soda, which is the combination of sodium and bicarbonate, is mainly used for cooking. Sodium compounds that have numerous industrial uses are sodium carbonate (washing soda), caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), borax and sodium thiosulfate.

Despite its several uses, sodium should be handled carefully, since it is not possible to keep it in an inert atmosphere. Sodium metal spontaneously reacts with water and other substances, so it is advised to keep sodium away from these substances.