Natronium
/neɪˈtroʊniəm/noun
An obsolete proposed name for the chemical element sodium.
Did you know?Humphry Davy proposed “natronium” as a name for sodium in the early nineteenth century, but “sodium,” derived from soda, ultimately became standard.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egyptian
Egyptian
nṯrj
“A term associated with natron, a naturally occurring mineral salt used in mummification and ritual purification.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
nítron
“Natron or mineral alkali.”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
naṭrūn
“Natron, the mineral salt.”
17th Century
English
natron
“A naturally occurring sodium carbonate mineral.”
1807
English
natronium
“Humphry Davy’s proposed name for the newly isolated metallic element later called sodium.”
Modern English
English
sodium
“The chemical element with atomic number 11; “natronium” survives only as an obsolete historical proposal.”