What is the Difference Between Sodium and Iron?

Sodium and iron are two different chemical elements with distinct properties. Here are the key differences between them:

1. Classification: Sodium is a non-transition metal, while iron is a transition metal.
2. Melting and Boiling Points: Sodium has low melting and boiling points, making it a soft metal. In contrast, iron has very high melting and boiling points, making it a hard metal.
3. Atomic Number and Symbol: Sodium has an atomic number of 11 and the chemical symbol Na, while iron has an atomic number of 26 and the chemical symbol Fe.
4. Strength and Hardness: Sodium is less strong than iron due to its weak metallic bond, making it a soft metal that can be cut with a knife. On the other hand, iron is a hard metal with high strength.
5. Electron Losing Tendency: Sodium belongs to the IA group and has a valence electron. It can lose that electron readily, exhibiting high metallic nature due to low ionization energy. In contrast, iron belongs to the VIIIB group and has multiple valence electrons.
6. Magnetism: Iron is not always magnetic in nature, but some of its allotropes are ferromagnetic, while sodium is not magnetic.
7. Sources: Sodium is primarily obtained from compounds like sodium chloride (salt), while iron is extracted through mining and electrolysis processes.

In summary, sodium and iron are two different types of metals with distinct properties, including their classification, strength, hardness, melting and boiling points, electron losing tendency, and magnetism.

Comparative Table: Sodium vs Iron

Here is a table comparing the differences between sodium and iron:

Sodium is an alkali metal, while iron is a transition metal. Sodium has a lower atomic number, atomic weight, and melting and boiling points compared to iron. Sodium is also a Group 1 element in the periodic table, while iron belongs to Group 8. Sodium has a silver color, whereas iron is gray.