sodium
Americannoun
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Chemistry. a soft, silver-white, metallic element that oxidizes rapidly in moist air, occurring in nature only in the combined state, and used in the synthesis of sodium peroxide, sodium cyanide, and tetraethyllead: a necessary element in the body for the maintenance of normal fluid balance and other physiological functions. Na; 22.9898; 11; 0.97 at 20°C.
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Medicine/Medical, Pharmacology. any salt of sodium, as sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate, present in or added to foods or beverages as a seasoning or preservative and used in many pharmaceutical products as an antacid, anticoagulant, or other agent.
noun
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A soft, lightweight, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali group that reacts explosively with water. It is the most abundant alkali metal on Earth, occurring especially in common salt. Sodium is very malleable, and its compounds have many important uses in industry. Atomic number 11; atomic weight 22.99; melting point 97.8°C; boiling point 892°C; specific gravity 0.971; valence 1.
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See Periodic Table
Etymology
Origin of sodium
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a statement to USA Today, Costco explained that it uses carrageenan and sodium phosphate “to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking,” adding that both ingredients are “approved by food safety authorities.”
From Salon
In research published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, scientists examined sodium vanadium oxide, a well-known sodium-based compound.
From Science Daily
Dangerous chemicals like mercury and sodium cyanide are used to separate the gold from the ore.
From BBC
In addition, yeast cells were treated with 100 mM sodium perchlorate, either on its own or combined with shock wave exposure.
From Science Daily
Changing preferences toward healthier eating have also pressured some of PepsiCo’s legacy brands that contain high amounts of sugar, sodium, or fat.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
