Of all the alkali metals, sodium has had perhaps the greatest commercial success, owing to its relative ease of manufacture and its important role worldwide in the manufacture of organolead compounds for use as gasoline octane enhancers. The decline of organoleads in North America has greatly affected U.S. production. Other sodium uses exist, but none requiring the massive quantities needed for lead antiknock compounds. Most sodium is made electrolytically. Various electrochemical cells are described.
However, sodium is used to make sodium methylate, herbicides, dyes, rubber, fragrances, vitamins, and ibuprophen. In metal manufacture, sodium is used in tantalum, titanium, silicon and refining metallic lead and grain refining. Newer uses include sodium batteries, flue‐gas cleanup, and alloy surface modification. Safe handling of sodium requires special consideration because of its high reactivity. Sodium alloys are also discussed.