SODIUM For billions of years sodium is washed out from rocks and soils, ending up in oceans, where it may

remain for about 50.106 years. Seawater contains approximately 11,000 ppm sodium. Rivers contain only about 9 ppm. Drinking water usually contains about 50 mg/L sodium. This value is clearly higher for mineral water. In soluble form sodium always occurs as Na+ ions. In what way and in what form does sodium react with water? Elementary sodium reacts strongly with water, according to the following reaction mechanism: 2Na(s) + 2H2O 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g) A colourless solution is formed, consisting of strongly alkalic sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and hydrogen gas. This is an exothermic reaction. Sodium metal is heated and may ignite and burn with a characteristic orange flame. Hydrogen gas released during the burning process reacts strongly with oxygen in the air. A number of sodium compounds do not react as strongly with water, but are strongly water soluble. Solubility of sodium and sodium compounds A number of examples of water solubility of sodium are available. De most familiar sodium compounds is sodium chloride (NaCl), otherwise known as kitchen salt. At 20oC solubility is 359 g/L, in other words adequately water soluble. Solubility is nearly temperature independent. Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is also adequately water soluble. Solubility is 220 g/L at 20oC. Why is sodium present in water? Sodium compounds naturally end up in water. As was mentioned earlier, sodium stems from rocks and soils. Not only seas, but also rivers and lakes contain significant amounts of sodium. Concentrations however are much lower, depending on geological conditions and wastewater contamination. Sodium compounds serve many different industrial purposes, and may also end up in water from industries. They are applied in metallurgy, and as a cooling agent in nuclear reactors. Sodium nitrate is often applied as a synthetic fertilizer. About 60% of sodium is utilized in chemical industries, where it is converted to chlorine gas, sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate, and about 20% of sodium is utilized in food industries as a preservative or a flavouring agent. The remainder is applied for example as brine in winter. Sodium hydroxide may be applied to prevent clogging of sewer pipes, and sodium carbonate is applied in water purification to neutralize acids. Sodium hydrogen carbonate is a constituent of backing powder, and is applied in textile and leather industries and in soap and cleanser production. In sanitary cleanser the element is present as sodium hypo chlorite. Using sodium metal, beryllium, thorium, titanium and zirconium can be extracted. In lamppost lights a small portion of sodium is often present in the neon lights, causing them to use fewer electricity. The radioactive isotope 24Na is applied in medical research. What are the environmental effects of sodium in water? Sodium is attributed water hazard class 2, in other words it is a risk when present in water. Sodium chloride however is not a risk and is attributed water hazard class 1. Sodium is a dietary mineral for animals. Plants however hardly contain any sodium. The LC50 value for gold fish is 157 mg/L. Sodium hypo chlorite from sanitary cleansers may contribute to chlorinated hydrocarbon formation, and may therefore heavily charge wastewater. Only one sodium isotope occurs naturally, namely the stable 23Na. There are 13 instable sodium isotopes, which are mildly radioactive. What are the health effects of sodium in water? Sodium is present in the human body in amounts of about 100 g. It is a dietary mineral, partially responsible for nerve functions. Blood serum contains 3.3 g/L sodium. It regulates extra cellular fluids, acid-base balance and membrane potential, partially together with potassium. One may overdose on sodium from kitchen salt. This causes increased blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, oedema, hyperosmolarity, confusion and increased risk of infection from excessive Na+ intake. Sodium shortages may lead to dehydration, convulsion, muscle paralysis, decreased growth and general numbness.

Generally, humans require about 300 mg sodium chloride per day to warrant a balanced sodium level. People that have diarrhoea or other health effects that increase salt requirements need a higher dietary amount of sodium than usual. Adult intake of kitchen salt is on average 9 g per day, which translates to approximately 4 g of sodium. People with heart and kidney disease are recommended a sodium poor diet. Kitchen salt solution was applied as vomiting provoker in the old days. Caustic soda can deeply affect tissues. Which water purification technologies can be applied to remove sodium from water? To remove sodium chloride from water, one may apply reverse osmosis, electro dialysis, distillation techniques or ion exchange. Reverse osmosis is most economical considering energy and money requirements. Sodium is applied in water purification. It may function as a counter ion of calcium and magnesium in water softeners. Caustic soda and sodium per carbonate are applied to neutralize acids. Sodium bisulphite (NaHSO3) is applied as a reductor for strongly oxidizing chemicals, sodium sulphide (Na2S) for precipitation of complexed metals. CHLORINE - Cl Chemical properties of chlorine - Health effects of chlorine - Environmental effects of chlorine Atomic number17 Atomic mass35.453 g.mol -1 Electronegativity according to Pauling3.0 Density3.21*10 -3 g.cm -3 at 20 C Melting point-101 C Boiling point-34.6 C Vanderwaals radius0.127 nm Ionic radius0.184 (-2) nm ; 0.029 nm (+6) Isotopes4 Electronic shell[Ne] 3s23p5 Energy of first ionisation1255.7 kJ.mol -1 Energy of second ionisation 2298 kJ.mol -1 Energy of third ionisation 3822 kJ.mol -1 Standard potential- 1.36 V Discovered by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1774 Chlorine (Cl) Chlorine Discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who mistakenly thought it contained oxygen. Chlorine was given its name in 1810 by Humphry Davy, who insisted that it was in fact an element. The pure chemical element has the physical form of a diatomic green gas. The name chlorine is derived from chloros, meaning green, referring to the color of the gas. Chlorine gas is two and one half times as heavy as air, has an intensely disagreeable suffocating odor, and is exceedingly poisonous. In its liquid and solid form it is a powerful oxidizing, bleaching, and disinfecting agent. This element is a part of the halogen series forming salts. It is extracted from chlorides through oxidation and electrolysis. Chlorine gas is greenish-yellow and combines readily with nearly all other elements. Applications Chlorine is an important chemical in water purification, in disinfectants, in bleach and in mustard gas. Chlorine is also used widely in the manufacture of many products and items directly or indirectly, i.e. in paper product production, antiseptic, dyestuffs, food, insecticides, paints, petroleum products, plastics, medicines, textiles, solvents, and many other consumer products. It is used to kill bacteria and other microbes from drinking water supplies. Chlorine is involved in beaching wood pulp for paper making, bleach is also used industrially to remove ink from recycle paper. Chlorine often imparts many desired properties in an organic compound when it is substituted for hydrogen (synthetic rubber), so it is widely use in organic chemistry, in the production of chlorates, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and in the bromine extraction. Chlorine in the environment

In nature it is only found combined with other elements chiefly sodium in the form of common salt (NaCl), but also in carnallite, and sylvite. Chlorides make up much of the salt dissolved in the earth's oceans: about 1.9 % of the mass of seawater is chloride ions. The amount of chloride in soils varies according to the distance from the sea. The average in top soils is about 10 ppm. Plants contain various amount of chlorine; it is an essential microutrient for higher plants where is concentrates in the chloroplasts. Growth suffers if the amount of chloride in the soil fall below 2 ppm, but it rarely happens. The upper limit of tolerance varies according to the crop. Health effects of chlorine Chlorine is a highly reactive gas. It is a naturally occurring element. The largest users of chlorine are companies that make ethylene dichloride and other chlorinated solvents, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins, chlorofluorocarbons, and propylene oxide. Paper companies use chlorine to bleach paper. Water and wastewater treatment plants use chlorine to reduce water levels of microrganisms that can spread disease to humans (disinfection). Exposure to chlorine can occur in the workplace or in the environment following releases to air, water, or land. People who use laundry bleach and swimming pool chemicals containing chlorine products are usually not exposed to chlorine itself. Chlorine is generally found only in industrial settings. Chlorine enters the body breathed in with contaminated air or when consumed with contaminated food or water. It does not remain in the body, due to its reactivity. Effects of chlorine on human health depend on how the amount of chlorine that is present, and the length and frequency of exposure. Effects also depend on the health of a person or condition of the environment when exposure occurs. Breathing small amounts of chlorine for short periods of time adversely affects the human respiratory system. Effects differ from coughing and chest pain, to water retention in the lungs. Chlorine irritates the skin, the eyes, and the respiratory system. These effects are not likely to occur at levels of chlorine that are normally found in the environment. Human health effects associated with breathing or otherwise consuming small amounts of chlorine over long periods of time are not known. Some studies show that workers develop adverse effects from repeat inhalation exposure to chlorine, but others will not. Environmental effects of chlorine Chlorine dissolves when mixed with water. It can also escape from water and enter air under certain conditions. Most direct releases of chlorine to the environment are to air and to surface water. Once in air or in water, chlorine reacts with other chemicals. It combines with inorganic material in water to form chloride salts, and with organic material in water to form chlorinated organic chemicals. Because of its reactivity chlorine is not likely to move through the ground and enter groundwater. Plants and animals are not likely to store chlorine. However, laboratory studies show that repeat exposure to chlorine in air can affect the immune system, the blood, the heart, and the respiratory system of animals. Chlorine causes environmental harm at low levels. Chlorine is especially harmful to organisms living in water and in soil.