Q
What is the product when ethanol reacts with sodium?
ALP CBT-1, 16-Feb-26 S-2
2026
✓ Answer:
A
Sodium ethoxide and hydrogen gas evolve during the reaction with ethanol.
Sodium ethoxide and hydrogen gas are produced when ethanol reacts with sodium: 2C2H5OH + 2Na → 2C2H5ONa + H2. This reaction demonstrates the weakly acidic nature of alcohols, as the sodium replaces the hydrogen atom in the hydroxyl (OH) group. The evolution of hydrogen gas in this reaction is often used as a confirmatory test for the presence of the alcoholic functional group.