[lemonoman]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but how do they make sodium and stuff in its metallic form?  I thought maybe you could electrolyse it out of solution, but I'd think the water would electrolyze out first, and thats no good.

Anybody got some insight?

[Karakth]

You don't use the dissolved salt in electrolysis, since as you said, the water would electrolyse out of the solution. No, what you do is that you electrolyse the molten salt (i.e. get the salt, dessicate it, melt it, and electrolyse). When you electrolyse NaCl, for example, you get Na deposited around the anode and Cl₂ around the cathode (unless I've mixed them up somehow...)

[lemonoman]

So, the reduction of sodium metal isn't as energy-efficient as I made it out to be.  Well that sucks.