Reaction with Na, NaH, or NaOH can be used to irreversibly accomplish the following reaction. $\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{OH} \longrightarrow \mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{ONa}^{+}$

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The reaction of ethanol ($\mathrm{CH}_{3}\mathrm{CH}_{2}\mathrm{OH}$) with NaOH does not lead to the formation of sodium ethoxide ($\mathrm{CH}_{3}\mathrm{CH}_{2}\mathrm{ONa}^{+}$); instead, NaOH is a base that typically does not react with alcohols in this way. Sodium ethoxide can be formed by reacting ethanol with Na or NaH, where Na or NaH can deprotonate the alcohol, but NaOH cannot irreversibly convert ethanol to sodium ethoxide due to its nature as a base in aqueous solution.

Reaction with Na, NaH, or NaOH Can Be Used to Irreversibly