Sodium

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Sodium, often known as white sage, is the second most abundant alkali metal and is often considered one of the most important elements on earth. Its name "white sage" was given to it because of the distinctive white color it produces when it reacts with water. Sodium is a light, silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife. It is also found in large quantities in seawater, which is one reason why seawater is salty.

Sodium has many uses in today's products. The main use of sodium is in the manufacture of glass, where it is used as a flux to fuse quartz. Sodium is also used in soap making, where it reacts with fatty acids to form salt. It also plays an important role in the food industry, where it is used as an additive under the name E621, better known as monosodium glutamate, which is popular with manufacturers and consumers for its strong flavouring abilities. Finally, sodium is also used in medicine. For example, sodium chloride, better known as salt, is often used in infusion solutions for intravenous administration in patients who cannot take food and fluids by mouth. It is also crucial for proper nervous system function and for maintaining fluid balance in the body.