Natriumatomi

Natriumatomi are the atoms of the chemical element sodium (symbol Na, atomic number 11). In the periodic table they are the building blocks of metallic sodium, a soft, highly reactive alkali metal. A neutral natriumatomi has an electron configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1, leaving one valence electron that is easily donated to form Na+ in compounds. This low first ionization energy accounts for sodium's vigorous reactivity, especially with water, where a natriumatomi releases heat and hydrogen gas.

In bulk, sodium atoms form a body-centered cubic metallic lattice. In nature they do not occur freely in significant amounts; instead, sodium is found in minerals and in seawater as the Na+ ion. The most prevalent natural isotope is Na-23, which is stable. Other isotopes, such as Na-22 and Na-24, are radioactive and have been produced in laboratories or during nuclear processes; they have half-lives ranging from hours to years.

Natriumatomi participate in a wide range of applications: in chemistry as reagents, in biology for maintaining cellular potential and nerve function, and in industry for producing salts and heat. The element is also notable for its use in sodium-vapor lamps and in spectral phenomena such as the sodium layer in the mesosphere, which has a characteristic double line.

Historically, sodium was isolated by Humphry Davy in 1807 via electrolysis of molten compounds. The name derives from natrium, the Latin term for sodium, converging with the symbol Na.