Transforming Sodium (Na)

By Rhiannonw

Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • 576 reads
5 comments
 

Sodium metal unstable, inflammable
but links up with chlorine, poisonous gas
(atom to atom – new molecules)
and the result – useful, innocuous common table salt!
There are large deposits underground,
and, of course, in seawater.

Two atoms linked become a molecule,
as if it is a new atom
with new different properties.

Sodium violently reacting with water,
splitting the H2O and bonding with the oxygen and
some of the hydrogen –
corrosive caustic soda!
(commercially produced).

And with hydrogen, carbon, and three oxygen atoms –
baking soda, of which there are also deposits underground.

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Comments

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

You seem to be in your element with chemistry, Rhiannon., but I take it with a pinch of salt. smiley

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

!!smiley Thank you! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

NaCl is not molecule, it forms an ionic crystal lattice (rather with electrostatic bonding). The second stanza I don't understand?

Not for nothing, corrosive alkaline called "caustic soda" you should see what it does. White-wash I think called? Can't remember the pH but it's on the limit.

Have a good day, out my window a lovely sunny day! Tom

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

OK, so it's only those covalently bonded that are called molecules. I used it for the the new smallest unit, and so in the second stanza I'm indicating that presumably why there are such different properties to the new compound from the individual original substances is that it is acting as if it is composed of new big atoms. Each kind of atom has slightly different number of protons and electons and that has huge effect on their different properties, one from another. The sodium ions and chloine atoms are clinging to each other, and also clinging to the others in the lattice.

The difference in properties of the different Sodium compounds is astonishing isn't it? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Yes Thiannon, the substances have radically different properties, it was the same with your carbon and diamond example.

I also sometimes have difficulty bringing over to laymen, you sometimes get misunderstood. Tricky.

Thanks for explaining! Tom