sodium

sodium
n.
a mineral element and an important constituent of the human body (average sodium content of the adult body is 4000 mmol). Sodium controls the volume of extracellular fluid in the body and maintains the acid-base balance. It also helps maintain electrical potentials in the nervous system and is thus necessary for the functioning of nerves and muscles. Sodium is contained in most foods and is well absorbed, the average daily intake in the UK being 200 mmol. The amount of sodium in the body is controlled by the kidneys. An excess of sodium leads to the condition of hypernatraemia, which often results in oedema. This may develop in infants fed on bottled milk, which has a much higher sodium content than human milk. Since babies are less able to remove sodium from the body than adults the feeding of a high-sodium diet to babies is dangerous and may lead to dehydration. Sodium is also implicated in hypertension: a high-sodium diet is thought to increase the risk of hypertension in later life. Symbol: Na.

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  • SODIUM — Le sodium est le plus courant des éléments alcalins. Son nom dérive de l’arabe soda , qui désignait le mélange de carbonates alcalins extrait des cendres de végétaux. Le symbole Na vient de son appellation allemande Natrium , qui dérive de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Sodium — Néon ← Sodium → Magnésium Li …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sodium — So di*um, n. [NL., fr.E. soda.] (Chem.) A common metallic element of the alkali group, in nature always occuring combined, as in common salt, in albite, etc. It is isolated as a soft, waxy, white, unstable metal, so highly reactive that it… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sodium — metallic alkaline element, 1807, coined by English chemist Humphry Davy from SODA (Cf. soda); so called because the element was isolated from caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). The chemical symbol Na is from natrium, alternative name for the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sodium — [sō′dē əm] n. [ModL: so named (1807) by DAVY Sir Humphry < SODA (because isolated from caustic soda) + IUM] 1. a soft, silver white, metallic chemical element, one of the alkali metals, having a waxlike consistency: it is found in nature only… …   English World dictionary

  • Sodium — Sodium, so v.w. Natrium …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Sodĭum — Sodĭum, soviel wie Natrium …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Sodium — Sodium, s.v.w. Natrium (s.d.) …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • Sodium — Sodĭum, s.v.w. Natrium …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • sodium — Symbol: Na Atomic number: 11 Atomic weight: 22.9898 Soft silvery reactive element belonging to group 1 of the periodic table (alkali metals). It is highly reactive, oxidizing in air and reacting violently with water, forcing it to be kept under… …   Elements of periodic system

  • sodium — ► NOUN ▪ a soft silver white reactive metallic chemical element of which common salt and soda are compounds. ORIGIN from SODA(Cf. ↑soda) …   English terms dictionary

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