Question

Ethanol reacts with sodium and forms two products. These are

• A. Sodium ethanoate and Hydrogen
• B. Sodium ethanoate and Oxygen
• C. Sodium ethoxide and Hydrogen
• D. Sodium ethoxide and Oxygen

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Sodium ethoxide and Hydrogen

The explanation for the correct option

(C) - Sodium ethoxide and Hydrogen

• The reaction between sodium and ethanol has the following equation

$$\begin{gathered} 2{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+2\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\to 2{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{ONa}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{ethanol}\mathrm{sodium}\mathrm{sodium}\mathrm{ethoxide}\mathrm{hydrogen}\mathrm{gas} \end{gathered}$$

• The products formed are sodium ethoxide and hydrogen.
• This reaction helps to show the acidic nature of ethanol.
• This reaction is a redox reaction. Sodium is oxidized to sodium ion and acidic hydrogen atom of ethanol is reduced to hydrogen gas.

Therefore sodium ethoxide and hydrogen are the end product of the reaction.

Hence the correct answer is option (C).