Sodium
/ˈsoʊ.di.əm/noun
A soft, highly reactive metallic chemical element with atomic number 11.
Did you know?The name was coined in the early 19th century from New Latin sodium, built on soda; the symbol Na comes from natrium, the older Latin name linked to natron, an ancient mineral used in cleansing and mummification rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egyptian
Egyptian
nṯrj / natron
“A naturally occurring sodium carbonate mineral used for washing, preservation, and ritual purification.”
Classical Latin
Latin
natrium
“Natron, the mineral ash/salt used in cleaning and embalming.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
soda
“A plant ash or alkaline substance used for making glass and soap.”
18th Century
English
soda
“An alkaline salt or carbonated water-associated substance.”
1807
English
sodium
“Name proposed by Humphry Davy for the newly isolated metal from soda.”
Modern English
English
sodium
“The chemical element Na, a soft alkali metal.”