Sodium

**Sodium is a very common element found in rocks and soils. It is needed for all life forms to aid in the transmission of nerve impulses. It is also highly soluble in water and will react violently with water to form lye and hydrogen gas. Sodium is found naturally in freshwater bodies. Concentrations of sodium vary greatly, and are dependent on the surrounding soil and geology. Too much sodium can raise the pH level of a water body to the point where it is too high for certain species of aquatic life to survive.

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