Sodium23

Sodium23 is the only stable isotope of sodium. Its atomic number is 11, meaning it has 11 protons in its nucleus. The most common naturally occurring isotope of sodium, sodium23 has a nucleus composed of 11 protons and 12 neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of approximately 22.98976928 atomic mass units. It is an alkali metal and a fundamental component of sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt. Sodium23 is not radioactive, and its presence is essential for many biological processes, including nerve impulse transmission and fluid balance in living organisms. It is found in abundance in the Earth's crust, primarily in minerals like halite and feldspar. In chemistry, sodium23 readily loses its single valence electron to form the sodium ion, Na+, which has a charge of +1. This tendency to form ionic bonds is characteristic of alkali metals. The spectral lines of sodium23 are famously responsible for the bright yellow emission seen in sodium vapor lamps.