Question

What is `"sodium ethoxide"`?

Answer 1

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.