Question

what happens when ethanoic acid react with sodium

Answer 1

Answer on Question #38231-Chemistry-Inorganic Chemistry

Question

What happens when ethanoic acid reacts with sodium?

Answer

When ethanoic acid reacts with sodium metal, the latter will reduce the ethanoic acid to acetaldehyde:

$$\mathrm{H_3C} \overset{\mathrm{O}}{\underset{\mathrm{OH}}{\vert}} + 2 \mathrm{Na} \longrightarrow \mathrm{H_3C} \overset{\mathrm{O}}{\underset{\mathrm{H}}{\vert}} + \mathrm{Na_2O}$$

acetaldehyde

At this reaction sodium metal is dissolved transforming into sodium oxide. This reaction is dominant. However, sodium ethanoate (or sodium acetate) formation may also occur:

$$2 \mathrm{H_3C} \overset{\mathrm{O}}{\underset{\mathrm{OH}}{\vert}} + 2 \mathrm{Na} \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{H_3C} \overset{\mathrm{O}}{\underset{\mathrm{ONa}}{\vert}} + \mathrm{H_2}$$

sodium acetate

At this reaction sodium metal is dissolved and hydrogen gas is evolved.