History

From the English word, //soda//; Medieval Latin, //sodanum//: a headache remedy. Long recognized in compounds, sodium was first isolated by sir Humphry Davy in 1807 by electrolysis of caustic soda. > It is now obtained commercially by the electrolysis of absolutely dry fused sodium chloride.
 * ** discovered when he was trying to find the difference between potash and soda ash
 * a new substance formed
 * when exposed to air - starts to look like table salt
 * This method is much cheaper than that of electrolyzing sodium hydroxide, as was used several years ago.
 * sparkling material that formed in salt pans of ancient egypt (natron) now soda
 * Na coming from natron
 * seventh most common element in the universe
 * comprimises one-thirteen of the Earth's crust[[image:images-6.jpeg]]
 * gives sea water salty taste
 * German chemist Robert Wilhelm Bunsen isolated sodium into purest form[[image:images-7.jpeg caption="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=robert+wilhelm+bunsen&num"]]