How do chemists form alkoxide?

Answer 1

Skylar Alexander

With common alcohols by the use of an alkali metal, or with less acidic alcohols, by reaction with #Bu^(n)Li#.

Lithium or sodium metal will quantitatively deprotonate the alcohol in methanol or ethanol:

#H_3C-CH_2OH + Na rarr H_3C-CH_2O^(-)""^(+)Na + 1/2H_2(g)uarr#

The sodium ethoxide would be relatively simple to purify—though laborious!).

#"Butyl lithium"# will quantitatively deprotonate any alcohol:

#ROH + Bu^(n)Li rarr RO^(-)Li^+ + BuHuarr#

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Answer 2

Carter Allen

Chemists form alkoxides by reacting alcohols with strong bases, such as sodium or potassium hydroxide. This reaction results in the removal of a proton from the alcohol, leaving behind the alkoxide ion.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.