(1) Ores of sodium : NaCl (common salt), NaNO₃ (chile salt petre), Na₂SO₄.10H₂O (Glauber's salt), borax (sodium tetraborate or sodium borate), (Na₂B₄O₇.10H₂O) .

(2) Extraction of sodium : It is manufactured by the electrolysis of fused sodium chloride in the presence of CaCl₂ and KF using graphite anode and iron cathode. This process is called Down process.

NaCl ? Na⁺ + Cl^–.

At cathode : Na⁺ + e^– → Na ;

At anode : Cl^– → Cl + e^– ; Cl + Cl → Cl₂ ↑

Sodium cannot be extracted from aqueous NaCl because E^o_H2O/H2 (–0.83V) is more than E^oNa⁺/Na (–2.71V).

Anode and cathode are separated by means of a wire gauze to prevent the reaction between Na & Cl₂ .