Question

The correct statements about sodium and its compounds would include that:
This question has multiple correct options
A.sodium forms an ionic hydride $NaH$
B.sodium nitrate decomposes to the nitrite on heating
C.Sodium is a hard metal
D.Sodium carbonate decomposes readily on heating

Answer 1

First of all to answer this question we should understand some basic characteristics of sodium metal. Sodium has an atomic number of $11$ and has an atomic weight of $23$ . It can be easily cut by butter knife at room temperature. Sodium is an Alkali metal.

Complete step by step answer:
Sodium is soft metal . It reacts with hydrogen gas at $200^\circ C$ to form sodium hydride. The reaction can be written as $2Na + {H_2} \to 2NaH$ . Sodium hydride is ionic in nature. Sodium hydride is a powerful reducing agent . So option A. sodium forms an ionic hydride $NaH$ is correct.
Now coming to the next option, we know that when sodium nitrate is heated above $800^\circ C$ it decomposes to sodium nitrate and oxygen gas. The reaction can be written as $2NaN{O_3} \to 2NaN{O_2} + {O_2} \uparrow$ . So it is clear to us that option B Sodium nitrate decomposes to the nitrite on heating , and is also correct.
Sodium is a soft metal and it is malleable in nature. So option C. Sodium is a hard metal, is wrong .
Sodium carbonate is a stable , so whenever we heat sodium carbonate it does not decompose readily . But at very high temperature it will ultimately decompose. So option D. Sodium carbonate decomposes readily on heating is wrong. So from the above explanation it is clear to us that the correct options of the question are A . Sodium forms an ionic hydride $NaH$ and B. sodium nitrate decomposes to the nitrite on heating.

Hence option A and B are correct

Additional information:
Whenever we burn sodium metal, it burns with a bright yellow light. Sodium metal reacts with water to release hydrogen gas. Sodium is shiny solid at room temperature.

Note:
Always remember that sodium is a S Block element . It is an alkali metal. It is hard and malleable in nature. Sodium carbonate does not decompose readily on heating because sodium carbonate is stable. Sodium hydride is ionic in nature.