Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a very soft silvery-white metal. Sodium is the most common alkali metal and the sixth most abundant element on Earth, comprising 2.8 per cent of Earth’s crust.
The first two electrons in the sodium electron configuration occupy the 1s orbital. Since the 1s orbital can only hold two electrons, the next two electrons for sodium are in the 2s orbital. The next six electrons will fulfil the 2p orbital. The p orbital has a capacity of six electrons. Six electrons will fill the 2p orbital, with the remaining electron placed in the 3s orbital. As a result, the sodium electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1.
Table of Contents
Element Sodium
Sodium is an alkali metal found in the periodic table’s first group or column. There are 11 electrons and 11 protons in the sodium atom, with one valence electron in the outer shell.
| Name of element | Sodium (Na) |
| Atomic number | 11 |
| Atomic mass | 23 amu |
| Sodium electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 |
| Density | 1.95 g/cm3 |
| Boiling point | 882.8 °C |
| Classification | Alkali metal |
Is Sodium a metal?
Sodium is extremely reactive in its pure form. It’s a very soft metal that’s easy to cut with a knife. It has a silvery-white colour and a yellow flame. Sodium is best known for its many useful compounds, including table salt (NaCl), sodium nitrate (Na2CO3), and baking soda (NaHCO3). Many of the compounds formed by sodium are water-soluble, meaning they dissolve in water.
Summary
- Sodium is the world’s sixth most abundant element. Since it is so reactive, it is never found in its pure form.
- The sodium atom has 11 electrons and 11 protons with one valence electron in the outer shell.
- The electron configuration of sodium is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1.
Related Topics
Neon Element| Properties & Uses
Sulfur trioxide (SO3)
Electron Configuration for Calcium
Titanium Electron Configuration
Electronic Configuration for Nitrogen (N)
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the sulfur electronic configuration?
Sulfur electronic configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
2. How many electrons does oxygen have?
A single oxygen atom has eight protons, eight electrons, and eight neutrons.
Oxygen is a stable isotope of oxygen with a nucleus of 8 neutrons and 8 protons. Its mass is 15.99491461956 u. Check the full topic “How many electrons does oxygen have?”.
3. How many electrons does helium have?
A single helium atom has two protons, two electrons, and two neutrons. The second element in the periodic table is helium. Because s subshells may store up to two electrons, both electrons fit into the 1s subshell, resulting in the electron configuration for helium atoms being 1s2.
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