sodium . ( Of the lat. ) scientific. sodium, and this of the it. ( soda , soda, a term coined in 1807 by H. Davy, 1778-1829, chemist and physicist who discovered). 1. m. chemical element of no. atóm. 11 Metal abundant in the Earth's crust, mainly in the form of salts such as sodium chloride or common salt. White glossy, soft as wax, very lightweight and with a very low melting point, is a key element in cellular metabolism, is used in the manufacture of solar cells, and alloyed with lead, as anti-knock gasoline. (Símb.) ( Na , natrun, Latin name of its hydroxide, soda). ? V. pump of sodium chloride of sodium nitrate in sodium