Question

What happens when ethanol reacts with sodium?

Answer 1

The ethanol is chemical compound having the chemical formula, ${C_2}{H_5}OH$and it can also written as $C{H_3} - C{H_2} - OH$. And ethanol is a highly flammable colorless compound and it is a volatile liquid. The ethanol is mainly used as the solvent which is used for the synthesis of organic chemicals. The common reaction undergone by alcohol is esterification reaction, oxidation reaction, dehydration and substitution reaction.

Complete answer:
We need to know that when the sodium metal is added to ethanol, it slowly reacts with alcohol and there is a formation of bubbles of hydrogen gas with colorless alkoxide solution and this alkoxide is known as sodium ethoxide. The alcohol is very reactive to sodium metal and this is a smoother reaction. When ethanol reacts with sodium metals, there is always a liberation of hydrogen gas that takes place following the formation of alkoxide solution. Let’s see the reaction of ethanol and sodium metal,
$2{C_2}{H_5}OH + Na \to 2{C_2}{H_5}Na + {H_2}$
Here, the terminal hydroxide bond present in the ethanol is slightly polarized. And the hydrogen atom becomes slightly positive and the oxygen atom of alcohol is slightly negative. We know that the sodium metal is highly reactive. Therefore, it reacts very vigorously with ethanol. Hence, it will replace the slightly positively charged hydrogen atom present in the ethanol and form sodium ethoxide.

Note:
We have to remember that by the reaction of alkoxide and sodium metal, there is a formation of sodium ethoxide. The ethanol is a polarized compound. And the sodium metal is highly reactive. Hence, it easily reacts with the ethanol and will get an alkoxide solution by the liberation of hydrogen gas. The hydrogen atom is positive in nature, thus it can easily be replaced by sodium metal.