why is sodium ethoxide a stronger base than sodium hydroxide?
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Solution
Basicity is the ability to absorb proton. The acidity of base increases if the conjugate acid is weaker and vice versa.
H+ + -OC2H5 = HOC2H5
H+ + -OH = H2O
Conjugate acid of ethoxide (-OC2H5) is ethanol and that of OH- is H2O. Now water is more acidic than ethanol. So it will remain ionise more than that of ethanol.