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Which common commercial compounds contain sodium?
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alkali metal
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).
Sodium is a highly reactive element that forms numerous essential commercial compounds. The most significant and familiar of these is sodium chloride (common salt), which serves as the primary raw material for producing many other sodium-based chemicals.12
Key commercial compounds containing sodium include:
- Sodium Chloride (NaCl): Used extensively for food seasoning and preservation, ice and snow removal, and water conditioning.12
- Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃): Also known as soda ash, it is a vital ingredient in the manufacture of glass, detergents, and cleansers.1
- Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃): Commonly called baking soda, it is used as a leavening agent in baking, an antacid, and the active component in many fire extinguishers.13
- Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH): Known as caustic soda or lye, it is a widely used industrial alkali employed in soapmaking, papermaking, and drain cleaning.14
- Sodium Sulfate (Na₂SO₄): Utilized in the production of paper, glass, and detergents.1
- Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl): The active ingredient in household bleach and an industrial antiseptic.1
- Sodium Nitrate (NaNO₃): Used as a nitrogenous fertilizer and in the production of dynamite.1