 Occurrence
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| At the end of the 19th century, sodium was chemically prepared by heating sodium carbonate with carbon to 1100°C.
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Na2CO3 (liquid) + 2C(solid, coke)  2Na(vapour) + 3CO(gas) |
| It is now produced commercially through the electrolysis of liquid sodium chloride. This is done in a Downs Cell in which
the NaCl is mixed with calcium chloride to lower the melting point below 700°C. As calcium is less electronegative than sodium, no calcium will be formed at the cathode. This method is less expensive than the previous Castner process of electrolyzing sodium hydroxide.
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| Very pure sodium can be isolated by thermal decomposition of sodium azide (NaN3).
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