Question

How can you neutralize alkoxide?

Answer 1

Well, to neutral-ize an alkoxide, make it neutral. Add a proton. Normally we add acid to base to neutralize it.

But, since an alkoxide is negatively-charged, we can simply add any strong acid that releases a positive charge to attach onto the alkoxide, thereby rendering it neutral.

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Any alkoxide is of the form `R-"O"^(-)`, where `R` is some alkyl group.

So to neutralize it, react it with a strong acid (`"H"_2"SO"_4` works well).

`R-"O"^(-) + "H"^(+) -> R-"OH"`

It gives you an alcohol with the corresponding `R` group.