Question

What happens when ethanol is treated with sodium metal? State the behaviour of ethanol in this reaction.

Answer 1

Hydrogen gas and sodium ethoxide are produced when ethanol and sodium metal combine. This salt dissolves in water and has no colour.

\[\ce{2Na + \underset{Ethanol}{2CH3CH2OH}-> \underset{ethoxide}{\underset{Sodium}{2CH3CH2ONa + H2}}}\]

Since hydrogen gas is produced during the process, it is used to detect the presence of ethanol or alcohol.