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Question
Sodium metal may be used to remove last traces of water from benzene, but not from ethanol. Explain.
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Solution
Ethanol is a so called protic solvent and can be seen a s a (weak) acid, whereas Sodium metal can act a strong base. That's the quick and dirty approach in practical chemistry, at least.
If you look closer , Sodium actually is a strong reducing agent, that reduces the Proton from Ethanol to elemental Hydrogen. What remains then is the sodium salt of the Ethanoate anion if you will. That's the more detailed answer and also one that you might get from your teacher or a textbook. As I said, for practical purposes that doesn't matter much, except you need to be aware that you'll get potentiality dangerous Hydrogen gas.
Ethanol is a so called protic solvent and can be seen a s a (weak) acid, whereas Sodium metal can act a strong base. That's the quick and dirty approach in practical chemistry, at least.
If you look closer , Sodium actually is a strong reducing agent, that reduces the Proton from Ethanol to elemental Hydrogen. What remains then is the sodium salt of the Ethanoate anion if you will. That's the more detailed answer and also one that you might get from your teacher or a textbook. As I said, for practical purposes that doesn't matter much, except you need to be aware that you'll get potentiality dangerous Hydrogen gas.
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