Post by Trade facilitator on Jan 9, 2023 9:19:51 GMT 1
Sodium: A Metal Commonly Known As Table Salt – Its Uses And Physical Properties – Export Potential In Nigeria
Sodium is everywhere; we hear about it and use it always in our daily lives. It is a nutrient we need to properly function. It is also a preservative, a flavor enhancer, and even part of many cleaning solutions in our homes. Sodium is found in rocks and in the ocean, and it's what gives many street lamps their yellow-orange glow.
Definition of Sodium:
Sodium is a type of metal that is always found as a salt. The most common dietary form is sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is commonly called table salt.
It is a member of the alkali metal family with lithium and potassium.
Sodium chloride is obtained by the reaction of sodium with chlorine. It is also used as a salt in fertilizers.
Sodium is a reactive, soft metal with a low melting point and most important of all alkaline metals from the commercial point of view. Sodium reacts rapidly with water, snow, and ice to produce sodium hydroxide.
Believe it or not, sodium is a metal. To be more specific it is an alkali earth metal. It is shown in column 1 (1A) of the periodic table with atomic number 11. The symbol for sodium is Na, which comes from the Latin name for sodium, natrium.
Sodium Reaction With Other Metals And Solutions:
When metallic sodium is exposed to air, it loses its silver appearance and develops an opaque grey colour layer which is a coating of sodium oxide. Sodium does not react with nitrogen even at very high temperatures but reacts with ammonia to form sodium amide.
Sodium reacts with hydrogen above 200ºC to form sodium hydride. It also reacts with various metallic halides to form sodium chloride and the metal.
Physical Properties of Sodium:
- Sodium has a strong metallic luster. In colour, it is very analogous to silver.
- It is so soft at common temperatures that it can be shaped into leaves by the pressure of the fingers.
- Sodium compounds tarnish rapidly on exposure to the air, though less rapidly than potassium.
- Sodium reacts with the oxygen in the air to form sodium oxide which then reacts with water vapour in the air to give sodium hydroxide film.
Uses of Sodium:
- It is also used in improving the structure of certain alloys; soaps, the purification of molten metals and sodium vapour lamps.
- Sodium is a component of sodium chloride, which is a very important compound found in the living environment.
- Sodium is important in the manufacturing of organic compounds and in making esters.
- Solid sodium carbonate is required in making glass.
Is Sodium The Same As Salt?
Sodium is a mineral found in many foods. Your body needs sodium for normal muscle and nerve functions. It also helps keep body fluids in balance. Most table salts are made from sodium chloride. So, salt used when preparing or flavoring foods usually contains sodium. And, healthcare providers often use the words sodium and salt interchangeably.
Though the words “salt” and “sodium” are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. “Salt” is sodium chloride which is table salt. Sodium chloride is 40% sodium and 60% chloride. One teaspoon of table salt contains about 2,400 mg of sodium.
Sodium is a mineral found in many foods, including monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium nitrate (a preservative).
Is Sodium Bad For Your Health?
Though you need some sodium, when it comes to this mineral, too much may be bad for your health. Eating high-sodium foods regularly can cause your body to retain excess water. And, because of this extra body water, your organs have to work harder. This increases your risk for high blood pressure, which can harm your heart and kidney function.
How Much Sodium Do You Need In Your Body?
An Adequate Intake of 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day has been established for adults, but most people consume more than that amount. The typical diet of most people today contains over 3,400 milligrams of sodium. Most of that sodium comes from a combination of eating out and packaged foods.
Adding more salt at the table also adds to high intakes of sodium — one teaspoon of salt has 2,300 milligrams of sodium. If you are 14 years of age or older and eat more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, the current health recommendation is to cut back on your daily intake of sodium.
Your body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but too much sodium is bad for your health. Eating too much sodium can increase your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease and stroke.
It is reported that together, heart disease and stroke kill more people each year than any other cause. Reducing your sodium intake can help lower your blood pressure and improve the health of your heart.
Where to find salt in Nigeria:
Salt is found in larger deposits in Ebonyi State whose slogan is " the salt of the nation”, other places of deposits includes Abia, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Anambra, Imo, Katsina, and Sokoto State.
How To Source And Export Sodium?
You can easily source for sodium in the locations listed above in order to jumpstart your export business. When you get your export contract (our company can provide you with one), check it carefully to understand the quality required by the importer. With that, you are good to go.
Stay with us for more.
Addendum:
Our company is the foremost company in Gemstone and Solid Mineral Business in Nigeria today, we train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Gemstone and Solid Mineral Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
Sodium is everywhere; we hear about it and use it always in our daily lives. It is a nutrient we need to properly function. It is also a preservative, a flavor enhancer, and even part of many cleaning solutions in our homes. Sodium is found in rocks and in the ocean, and it's what gives many street lamps their yellow-orange glow.
Definition of Sodium:
Sodium is a type of metal that is always found as a salt. The most common dietary form is sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is commonly called table salt.
It is a member of the alkali metal family with lithium and potassium.
Sodium chloride is obtained by the reaction of sodium with chlorine. It is also used as a salt in fertilizers.
Sodium is a reactive, soft metal with a low melting point and most important of all alkaline metals from the commercial point of view. Sodium reacts rapidly with water, snow, and ice to produce sodium hydroxide.
Believe it or not, sodium is a metal. To be more specific it is an alkali earth metal. It is shown in column 1 (1A) of the periodic table with atomic number 11. The symbol for sodium is Na, which comes from the Latin name for sodium, natrium.
Sodium Reaction With Other Metals And Solutions:
When metallic sodium is exposed to air, it loses its silver appearance and develops an opaque grey colour layer which is a coating of sodium oxide. Sodium does not react with nitrogen even at very high temperatures but reacts with ammonia to form sodium amide.
Sodium reacts with hydrogen above 200ºC to form sodium hydride. It also reacts with various metallic halides to form sodium chloride and the metal.
Physical Properties of Sodium:
- Sodium has a strong metallic luster. In colour, it is very analogous to silver.
- It is so soft at common temperatures that it can be shaped into leaves by the pressure of the fingers.
- Sodium compounds tarnish rapidly on exposure to the air, though less rapidly than potassium.
- Sodium reacts with the oxygen in the air to form sodium oxide which then reacts with water vapour in the air to give sodium hydroxide film.
Uses of Sodium:
- It is also used in improving the structure of certain alloys; soaps, the purification of molten metals and sodium vapour lamps.
- Sodium is a component of sodium chloride, which is a very important compound found in the living environment.
- Sodium is important in the manufacturing of organic compounds and in making esters.
- Solid sodium carbonate is required in making glass.
Is Sodium The Same As Salt?
Sodium is a mineral found in many foods. Your body needs sodium for normal muscle and nerve functions. It also helps keep body fluids in balance. Most table salts are made from sodium chloride. So, salt used when preparing or flavoring foods usually contains sodium. And, healthcare providers often use the words sodium and salt interchangeably.
Though the words “salt” and “sodium” are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. “Salt” is sodium chloride which is table salt. Sodium chloride is 40% sodium and 60% chloride. One teaspoon of table salt contains about 2,400 mg of sodium.
Sodium is a mineral found in many foods, including monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium nitrate (a preservative).
Is Sodium Bad For Your Health?
Though you need some sodium, when it comes to this mineral, too much may be bad for your health. Eating high-sodium foods regularly can cause your body to retain excess water. And, because of this extra body water, your organs have to work harder. This increases your risk for high blood pressure, which can harm your heart and kidney function.
How Much Sodium Do You Need In Your Body?
An Adequate Intake of 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day has been established for adults, but most people consume more than that amount. The typical diet of most people today contains over 3,400 milligrams of sodium. Most of that sodium comes from a combination of eating out and packaged foods.
Adding more salt at the table also adds to high intakes of sodium — one teaspoon of salt has 2,300 milligrams of sodium. If you are 14 years of age or older and eat more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, the current health recommendation is to cut back on your daily intake of sodium.
Your body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but too much sodium is bad for your health. Eating too much sodium can increase your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease and stroke.
It is reported that together, heart disease and stroke kill more people each year than any other cause. Reducing your sodium intake can help lower your blood pressure and improve the health of your heart.
Where to find salt in Nigeria:
Salt is found in larger deposits in Ebonyi State whose slogan is " the salt of the nation”, other places of deposits includes Abia, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Anambra, Imo, Katsina, and Sokoto State.
How To Source And Export Sodium?
You can easily source for sodium in the locations listed above in order to jumpstart your export business. When you get your export contract (our company can provide you with one), check it carefully to understand the quality required by the importer. With that, you are good to go.
Stay with us for more.
Addendum:
Our company is the foremost company in Gemstone and Solid Mineral Business in Nigeria today, we train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Gemstone and Solid Mineral Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
