Sodium

Sodium (Na) is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal with atomic number 11. It has a low melting point (~98 °C) and boils at around 883 °C. Highly reactive—particularly with water—sodium tarnishes quickly in air. It is widely used in chemical synthesis, industrial processes, heat-transfer systems, and scientific research.

Goodfellow supplies pure sodium for specialized applications across research and industry, offering this highly reactive alkali metal in multiple forms to meet specific needs. In the chemical industry, sodium serves as a powerful reducing agent in organic synthesis and in the production of sodium compounds used in numerous products. The nuclear industry utilizes sodium as a coolant in fast neutron reactors, taking advantage of its excellent heat transfer properties. In metallurgy, sodium vapor is used in the production of some metals, such as titanium and zirconium, through the reduction of their chlorides. Emerging technologies benefiting from sodium include advanced battery systems, particularly sodium-ion batteries, which are being developed as a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries for grid-scale energy storage. Additionally, sodium's role in sodium vapor lamps continues to be significant in specialized lighting applications where high efficiency and long lifespan are crucial. Goodfellow's sodium products support cutting-edge research in materials science, particularly in the development of novel energy storage solutions and advanced chemical processes.