Sodium

Sodium is an element^[1] in the alkali metals class of the periodic table. It is so chemically active that it is never found free (in elemental form) in nature. In its elemental form, sodium reacts violently with water, forming sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Sodium metal is usually stored in an oil based solution to prevent it from reacting with moisture in the air.

Sodium was isolated as an element in 1807, by Sir Humphrey Davy.

Applications[edit]

Sodium is often combined with other elements and has a range of applications, such as salt (sodium chloride), "soda ash" or "mineral alkali" (sodium carbonate), lye or "caustic soda" (sodium hydroxide).

Sodium has also been used to challenge the assumptions behind an Old Earth, the argument being that if the earth was billions of years old, one would expect there to be more salt in the sea than currently exists.^[2]

References[edit]

1. ↑ Wile, Dr. Jay L. Exploring Creation With Physical Science. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000
2. ↑ Not Enough Salt in the Sea? American Scientific Affiliation: A Network of Christians in Science, 2010