Cutting sodium metal. Freshly cut, shiny surface of a sample of sodium metal. Sodium (Na) is an alkali metal. It is soft enough to be cut with a knife

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Cutting sodium metal. Freshly cut, shiny surface of a sample of sodium metal. Sodium (Na) is an alkali metal. It is soft enough to be cut with a knife. It reacts rapidly with water and oxygen in the air, therefore is usually kept in oil. This cut surface will tarnish rapidly as the oxide forms. Sodium occurs widely in nature, principally as sodium chloride (NaCl) in sea water and salt deposits. Sodium ions are essential to life.

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Size: 5174px × 3390px
Photo credit: © MARTYN F. CHILLMAID/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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