Sodium is soft, malleable and ductile. Sodium can be found in huge quantities in underground deposits or salt mines, seawater and other natural waters. Sodium oxidizes immediately when exposed to air, reacts violently when put with water forming sodium Hydroxide and Hydrogen. The most important sodium compound is sodium chloride or common salt. Another important compound is sodium bicarbonate or simply baking soda.
Sodium is used in the manufacture of tetraethyl lead and as a cooling agent in nuclear reactors.
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