Sodium is classified as a pure substance and more specifically, it is an element. An element is defined as a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Sodium, represented by the symbol Na on the periodic table, is one of the fundamental building blocks of matter.
As a pure substance, sodium consists entirely of sodium atoms, and it exhibits consistent chemical properties. Unlike compounds, which are made from two or more different elements chemically bonded together, pure sodium is composed solely of sodium atoms.
Moreover, sodium is not a mixture because a mixture contains two or more different substances that are physically combined but not chemically bonded. In everyday life, you find sodium mostly in the form of sodium chloride (table salt), which is a compound made from sodium and chlorine. However, in its elemental form, sodium is a soft, silvery-white metal that must be handled with care due to its highly reactive nature, especially with water.