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Sodium, a Group IA element, is one of the most abundant metals on earth. Sodium can exist in both free states and as compounds in a shiny, soft white crystalline form. Its compounds are distributed abundantly, starting with sodium chloride, the major salinity source in sea and ocean water. Considering its atomic structure, sodium has an atomic number of 11. It means that the metal has 11 protons and 11 electrons. The mass number of sodium is 23.
The mass number is defined as the total number of neutrons and protons present in an element. If sodium has 11 protons and its mass number is 23, the total number of neutrons needs to be 12. Each proton and neutron has a mass equal to 1 amu. “AMU” or Atomic Mass Unit is the standard SI unit used to measure any element’s atomic mass. Each proton and neutron has 1 amu mass, and therefore, the total mass of sodium will be equal to 23 amu.
If we apply the molar theory to define the weight of sodium, we can say that its weight is approximately 23 grams per mole. Mole is the smallest unit used to measure atoms’ and molecules’ weight. Therefore, the above statement means that you will find 23 grams of the element in one mole of sodium. Sodium is found both in solid and gaseous forms. It does not have any liquid form. When sodium combines with any other elements, 23 grams of sodium is required per mole of the chemical reaction.
