Vivian Marlowe
Sodium is a highly reactive metal that displaces the hydrogen atom in an alcohol molecule. This occurs because sodium is more reactive than hydrogen. The reaction between sodium and alcohol produces sodium alkoxide and hydrogen gas. This reaction is highly exothermic, releasing a lot of heat, and is often used as a test for the presence of alcohol in a substance. However, it is not suitable for all types of alcohols, such as tertiary alcohols, as the hydrogen atom that sodium needs to displace is not available in these molecules.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why does sodium displace hydrogen in an alcohol? | Sodium is a highly reactive metal that displaces the hydrogen atom in the alcohol molecule. |
| What happens when sodium reacts with alcohol? | A displacement reaction occurs, forming sodium alkoxide and releasing hydrogen gas. |
| What is the chemical equation for this reaction? | 2CH3CH2OH + 2Na → 2CH3CH2ONa + H2 |
| What is the result of this reaction? | The reaction is highly exothermic, releasing a lot of heat and causing the hydrogen gas to burn with a pop sound. |
| Is this reaction suitable for all types of alcohols? | No, for example, tertiary alcohols do not react with sodium as the hydrogen atom that sodium needs to displace is not available in these alcohols. |
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What You'll Learn
Sodium is more reactive than hydrogen
Sodium is a highly reactive metal that displaces the hydrogen atom in an alcohol molecule. This occurs because sodium is more reactive than hydrogen. The reaction between sodium and alcohol forms a sodium alkoxide and releases hydrogen gas. For example, when ethanol reacts with sodium, the chemical equation is:
> 2CH3CH2OH + 2Na → 2CH3CH2ONa + H2
In this equation, CH3CH2OH represents ethanol, Na is sodium, CH3CH2ONa is sodium ethoxide (the sodium alkoxide), and H2 is hydrogen gas. The reaction is highly exothermic, releasing a lot of heat. This heat is sufficient to ignite the hydrogen gas, causing it to burn with a popping sound. This reaction is commonly used to test for the presence of alcohols in a substance.
Sodium ethoxide is similar to sodium hydroxide, except that the hydrogen has been replaced by an ethyl group. Sodium hydroxide contains OH⁻ ions, while sodium ethoxide contains CH3CH2O⁻ ions. The ethoxide formula is written with oxygen on the right for clarity, indicating its origin from ethanol. This reaction is not suitable for all alcohols, such as tertiary alcohols, because the hydrogen atom that sodium needs to displace is not available in these molecules.
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![I. On the Reaction of Both the Ions and Molecules of Acids, Bases and Salts. On the Reaction of Sodium Ethylate and Methyl Iodide in Absolute Ethyl Alcohol at 00. by William A. 1916 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The reaction is exothermic, releasing a lot of heat
The reaction between sodium and an alcohol is highly exothermic, meaning it releases a lot of heat. This heat is sufficient to ignite the hydrogen gas that is produced, causing it to burn with a popping sound. The reaction is a useful test for the presence of alcohols in a substance.
The exothermic nature of the reaction is due to the displacement of the hydrogen atom in the alcohol molecule by the highly reactive metal sodium. This displacement results in the formation of a sodium alkoxide and the release of hydrogen gas. The chemical equation for this reaction is:
> 2CH3CH2OH + 2Na → 2CH3CH2ONa + H2
In this equation, CH3CH2OH represents ethanol, Na is sodium, CH3CH2ONa is sodium ethoxide (the sodium alkoxide), and H2 is hydrogen gas.
The reaction between sodium and ethanol is typical, but any other alcohol can be used, and the reaction will be the same. For example, if a small piece of sodium is dropped into ethanol, it reacts steadily to produce bubbles of hydrogen gas and leaves a colourless solution of sodium ethoxide.
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The hydrogen atom must be available for displacement
The reaction between sodium and alcohol is a displacement reaction. This occurs because sodium, being a highly reactive metal, displaces the hydrogen atom in the alcohol molecule. The hydrogen atom must be available for displacement. For example, in tertiary alcohols, the hydrogen atom that sodium needs to displace is not available, so a reaction does not occur.
In the reaction, a small piece of sodium is dropped into an alcohol, such as ethanol. The sodium reacts to give off bubbles of hydrogen gas and leaves a colourless solution of sodium ethoxide. The chemical equation for this reaction is: 2CH3CH2OH + 2Na → 2CH3CH2ONa + H2. Here, CH3CH2OH represents ethanol, Na is sodium, CH3CH2ONa is sodium ethoxide, and H2 is hydrogen gas.
The reaction is highly exothermic, releasing a lot of heat. This heat is sufficient to ignite the hydrogen gas that is produced, causing it to burn with a popping sound. This is a common test for the presence of alcohols in a substance.
Sodium ethoxide is similar to sodium hydroxide, except that the hydrogen has been replaced by an ethyl group. Sodium hydroxide contains OH⁻ ions, while sodium ethoxide contains CH3CH2O⁻ ions. The ethoxide formula is written with oxygen on the right to indicate that it comes from ethanol.
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The reaction produces a sodium alkoxide
The reaction of an alcohol with sodium produces a sodium alkoxide and hydrogen gas. This reaction is a displacement reaction, where the highly reactive metal sodium displaces the hydrogen atom in the alcohol molecule. The hydrogen atom is more easily displaced in primary alcohols, followed by secondary and tertiary alcohols. However, tertiary alcohols do not react with sodium as the hydrogen atom that needs to be displaced is unavailable in these molecules.
The chemical equation for the reaction between ethanol, a common alcohol, and sodium illustrates this process:
2CH3CH2OH + 2Na → 2CH3CH2ONa + H2
In this equation, CH3CH2OH represents ethanol, Na is sodium, CH3CH2ONa is sodium ethoxide (the sodium alkoxide), and H2 is hydrogen gas. The sodium ethoxide formed is a colorless solution, and the reaction is highly exothermic, releasing enough heat to ignite the hydrogen gas produced, resulting in a popping sound.
Sodium ethoxide is similar to sodium hydroxide, except that the hydrogen in sodium hydroxide is replaced by an ethyl group. Sodium hydroxide contains OH- ions, while sodium ethoxide contains CH3CH2O- ions. The ethoxide formula is written with oxygen on the right for clarity, indicating its origin from ethanol.
The reaction between alcohols and sodium can be used to test for the presence of alcohols. However, due to the dangers of handling sodium and its violent reaction with acids, it is not the best test method. To perform the test, one must ensure the liquid being tested is neutral and free of water, as sodium reacts with the -OH group in water more readily than with the one in an alcohol.
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The reaction is a common test for the presence of alcohols
The reaction between sodium and alcohol is a common test for the presence of alcohols. This is because sodium is a highly reactive metal that displaces the hydrogen atom in the alcohol molecule. The reaction is highly exothermic, meaning it releases a lot of heat. The heat produced is enough to ignite the hydrogen gas that is formed, causing it to burn with a popping sound.
The chemical equation for this reaction is: 2CH3CH2OH + 2Na → 2CH3CH2ONa + H2. In this equation, CH3CH2OH represents ethanol, Na is sodium, CH3CH2ONa is sodium ethoxide, and H2 is hydrogen gas.
To perform the test, a small piece of sodium is dropped into a sample of the substance being tested. If the substance is an alcohol, the sodium will react with it to produce bubbles of hydrogen gas, leaving a colourless solution of sodium ethoxide. This reaction only occurs if the liquid being tested is neutral and free of water, as sodium reacts violently with acids and with the -OH group in water.
It is important to note that this test is not suitable for all types of alcohols. For example, tertiary alcohols do not react with sodium because the hydrogen atom that sodium needs to displace is not available in these molecules.
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is also sometimes used in alcohol synthesis. It can be used to neutralise corrosive acids such as hydrogen chloride (HCl), which can be formed during the synthesis of alcohols from haloalkanes.
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Frequently asked questions
Sodium displaces the hydrogen in an alcohol because it is a highly reactive metal. This results in the formation of a sodium alkoxide and the release of hydrogen gas.
The chemical equation for the reaction between sodium and ethanol, a common alcohol, is:
2CH3CH2OH + 2Na → 2CH3CH2ONa + H2
In this equation, CH3CH2OH represents ethanol, Na is sodium, CH3CH2ONa is sodium ethoxide (the sodium alkoxide), and H2 is hydrogen gas.
To test for the presence of an alcohol, a small piece of sodium is added to a neutral liquid that is free of water. If the liquid is an alcohol, bubbles of hydrogen will be produced. This reaction is highly exothermic and can cause the hydrogen gas to ignite, producing a popping sound.
