What is #"sodium ethoxide"#?

1 Answer
anor277
Mar 24, 2016

Sodium ethoxide is the sodium salt of ethanol, #H_3C-CH_2OH#

Explanation:

The reaction between ethanol and sodium mirrors the reaction between water and sodium:

#H_3C-CH_2OH + Na rarr H_3C-CH_2O^(-)Na^(+) + 1/2H_2uarr#

The #C-H# and #C-C# bonds, and the #C-O# and #O-H# bonds are all covalent bonds; there is a formal negative charge on the oxygen atom, and a formal positive charge on the sodium atom: a formal ionic bond. Sodium ethoxide could be isolated as a solid.

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