Question

What is an alkoxide? Give an example.

Answer 1

Alkoxide

• The alkoxide is the conjugate base of alcohol, where the hydrogen atom is replaced by an alkyl group.
• It is an organic functional group, having a general formula of $\mathrm{RO}-$, where R is the alkyl group.

Example

• Sodium reacts with methanol $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{OH}\right)$ to give an alkoxide, sodium methoxide $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{ONa}\right)$.