Which element has Na as its chemical symbol?

The element with Na as its chemical symbol is sodium.

Sodium is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal with atomic number 11. Its symbol, Na, comes from natrium, the Latin-derived name used in several European languages. The English word “sodium” comes from soda, reflecting the historical connection between sodium compounds and soda ash.

Pure sodium is highly reactive, especially with water, so it is not found naturally as a free metal in ordinary environments. Instead, it occurs in compounds such as sodium chloride, or table salt. Sodium ions are also essential in biology: they help nerve cells transmit signals, support muscle contraction, and regulate fluid balance.

A frequent mix-up is confusing sodium with salt. Sodium is an element, while table salt is a compound made from sodium and chlorine, represented by the formula NaCl. Another neighbouring fact is that potassium’s symbol is K, from kalium, rather than a symbol beginning with P.