Question

The product formed by the reaction of ethyl alcohol with sodium is/are:
a.) Ethene and hydrogen
b.) Sodium ethoxide and hydrogen
c.) Sodium ethoxide and oxygen
d.) Sodium hydroxide and sodium ethoxide

Answer 1

When sodium reacts with ethanol or ethyl alcohol it reacts steadily and form bubbles of gas and also forms a colorless solution of an alkoxide.

Complete step by step answer:
The reactivity series in chemistry in which metals are arranged by their reactivity from highest to lowest is use to provide information about the reactions of metals with water or alcohol or some displacement reactions. The reactivity series is mentioned below-
Potassium – k (most reactive)
Sodium – Na
Calcium - Ca
Magnesium - Mg
Aluminium - Al
Zinc - Zn
Iron - Fe
Tin - Sn
Lead – Pb
Copper – Cu
Silver – Ag
Gold – Au
Platinum – Pt (least reactive)

Now we can say that Sodium is highly reactive with water or acid or alcohol.
The reaction of ethyl alcohol with sodium is very steady, sodium is very reactive and as soon as it is dropped in the solution of ethyl alcohol it reacts steadily and form bubbles of hydrogen gas and also forms a colorless solution of sodium ethoxide which is also known as alkoxide.
If the solution is completely dry then the sodium ethoxide is left as a white solid.
The reaction takes place when sodium react with ethyl alcohol is mentioned below-
$Na+{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH\to {{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}ONa+{{H}_{2}}$

From the above reaction it is clear that sodium reacts with ethyl alcohol to form sodium ethoxide and hydrogen.
The balanced chemical reaction is
$2Na+2{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH\to 2{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}ONa+{{H}_{2}}$
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: The reaction of ethyl alcohol with sodium is very steady, sodium is very reactive so the metal sodium should be handled under the surface on a liquid which is inert for example mineral oil or xylene or toluene. Most important sodium should be used only in areas which are free of ignition sources and should be stored in tightly sealed containers.
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