Question

What happens when ethanol reacts with sodium?

Answer 1

The reaction mechanism between ethanol and sodium is as follows:

• The formation of hydrogen gas bubbles and Sodium ethoxide is formed with a colorless solution.
• $\underset{\mathrm{Ethanol}}{2{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}}{2\mathrm{Na}(\mathrm{s}})\to \underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{ethoxide}}{2{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{ONa}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$
• Sodium ethoxide contains a cation (${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$) and an anion (${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2{\mathrm{O}}^{-}$).
• The anion compound is known as ethoxide.