sodium benzoate noun

A compound used as an antiseptic and as a food preservative

sodium bicarbonate see under bicarbonate

sodium carbonate noun

A soluble compound widely used in the making of glass, ceramics, etc and as a cleaning agent

sodium chlorate noun

A colourless crystalline compound used in explosives, as an antiseptic, and as weedkiller

sodium chloride noun

Common table salt, occurring naturally as halite and in seawater

sodium cromoglycate noun

A drug which blocks the release of histamine, used to treat asthma and various allergies

sodium hydroxide noun

Caustic soda, manufactured by treating quicklime with a solution of hot sodium carbonate, and used as a reagent, in the manufacture of soap, rayon and sodium compounds

sodium lamp noun

A street lamp using sodium vapour and giving orange or yellow light

sodium nitrate noun

A white crystalline solid compound used in explosives, as a fertilizer and food preservative (also called soda nitre)

sodium pump noun (biochemistry)

A mechanism by which sodium is removed through cell membranes, eg in the axon of a neurone and certain kidney cells, the energy for the process being derived from the breakdown of ATP

sodium thiosulphate noun

A white soluble substance used as a fixer in photography

sodium vapour lamp noun

A sodium lamp