What is "sodium amide"

n. (context chemistry English) A white solid, NaNH₂ obtained by reacting ammonia with metallic sodium; it is used in the production of hydrazine, and indigo dyes.

Sodium amide, commonly called sodamide, is the inorganic compound with the formula NaNH. This solid, which is dangerously reactive toward water, is white, but commercial samples are typically gray due to the presence of small quantities of metallic iron from the manufacturing process. Such impurities do not usually affect the utility of the reagent. NaNH conducts electricity in the fused state, its conductance being similar to that of NaOH in a similar state. NaNH has been widely employed as a strong base in organic synthesis.