reducingagents

Sodium (symbol Na, atomic number 11, and atomic weight 22,9898) is a chemical a soft metal, reactive and with a low melting point, and a relative density of 0,97 at 20ºC (68ºF). The element’s name comes from the English word soda, which is sometimes used to describe various sodium compounds. From the commercial point of view, sodium is the most important of all the alkaline metals. Sodium reacts quickly with water, and also with snow and ice, to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen. When recently cut metallic sodium is exposed to air, it loses its silvery appearance and acquires an opaque grey colour due to the formation of a sodium oxide coating. While sodium can react with ammonia to form sodium amide, it does react with halogens. Sodium and hydrogen react above 200ºC (390ºF) to form sodium hydride.

Sodium also reacts with various metallic halides to generate the metal and sodium chloride. Sodium doesn’t react with paraffinic hydrocarbons, but it forms addition compounds with naphthalene and other aromatic polycyclic compounds and with aryl alkenes. The reaction of sodium with alcohols is similar to the reaction of sodium with water, but slower. There are two general reactions with organic halides. One of them requires the condensation of two organic compounds, which form halogens when those are eliminated. The second type of reaction includes the replacement of halogen by sodium, to obtain a sodium organic compound. Sodium is found in nature only in the combined state. It occurs in the ocean and in salt lakes as sodium chloride, NaCl, and less often as sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, and sodium sulfate, Na2SO4. Sodium is prepared commercially by the electrolytic decomposition of fused sodium chloride. Sodium ranks seventh in order of abundance of the elements in Earth’s crust. It is a necessary constituent of plant and animal tissue.

According to the latest BMI American petrochemical industry report, the current U.S. recovering petrochemical industry, but the relatively slow speed recovery, want to 2013 to restore to the level in 2008, in the long run, suffer from Asia and the Middle East competition intensifies, American petrochemical production capacity will be suppressed.
2009 major U.S. plastic resin product output for 3620 tons, small increase in 2008 than 0.9 percent. One low density polyethylene (LDPE) sales fell to 306 million tons; 5.7% The polystyrene (PS) sales fell 2 245 million tons, Polypropylene (PP) 2.8% year-on-year drop to 7.6 million tons, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) output fell 1.3-580 million tons, And LLDPE and HDPE yield year-on-year growth rates rose 4.2 per cent and 1.1 million tons and 772 tons.
BMI, American petrochemical products output growth, but until 2011 and 9% in 2012 will slow rebound.

Sodium is prepared commercially by the electrolytic decomposition of fused sodium chloride. It is a necessary constituent of plant and animal tissue. Sodium in its metallic form is very important in making esters and in the manufacture of organic compounds. Sodium is also a component of table salt, sodium chloride (NaCl) a very important compound found everywhere in the living environment. Its other uses are: to improve the structure of certain alloys; in soap, in combination with fatty acids, in sodium vapor lamps, to descale metals, to purify molten metals. Solid sodium carbonate is needed to make glass. The element is used in the manufacture of tetraethyl lead and as a cooling agent in nuclear reactors. Other important compounds of sodium include sodium carbonate, known as washing soda, and sodium bicarbonate, known as baking soda. Sodium hydroxide, known commercially as soda lye or caustic soda, is used in the manufacture of many important articles of immense importance. Sodium fluoride, NaF, is used as an antiseptic, as a poison for mice and roaches, and in ceramics. Sodium nitrate, known as Chile saltpeter, is used as a fertilizer. Sodium peroxide, Na2O2, is an important bleaching and oxidizing agent. Sodium thiosulfate, Na2S2O3 · 5H2O, known as hypo, is used in photography as a fixing agent.

Sodium (symbol Na, atomic number 11, and atomic weight 22,9898) is a chemical a soft metal, reactive and with a low melting point, and a relative density of 0,97 at 20ºC (68ºF). The element’s name comes from the English word soda, which is sometimes used to describe various sodium compounds. From the commercial point of view, sodium is the most important of all the alkaline metals. Sodium reacts quickly with water, and also with snow and ice, to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen. When recently cut metallic sodium is exposed to air, it loses its silvery appearance and acquires an opaque grey colour due to the formation of a sodium oxide coating. While sodium can react with ammonia to form sodium amide, it does react with halogens. Sodium and hydrogen react above 200ºC (390ºF) to form sodium hydride.