Question
Explain why sodium metal can be used for drying diethyl ether but not ethyl alcohol.
✓
Answer
Due to presence of an active hydrogen atom, ethyl alcohol reacts with sodium metal.
$2\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{OH}+2\text{Na}\rightarrow2\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{ONa}+\text{H}_2$
Diethyl ether, on the other hand, does not have replaceable hydrogen atom therefore does not react with sodium metal hence can be dried by metallic sodium.
$2\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{OH}+2\text{Na}\rightarrow2\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{ONa}+\text{H}_2$
Diethyl ether, on the other hand, does not have replaceable hydrogen atom therefore does not react with sodium metal hence can be dried by metallic sodium.
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