How does the size of the alkyl group in alcohol affect the vigor of its reaction with sodium metal?

Answer 1

The longer the alkyl chain, the more sluggish the reaction with the alkali metal.

When methanol and ethanol react with sodium metal, they both react very quickly. However, when the alkyl chain lengthens or branches, the reaction with sodium metal slows down. Occasionally, the alkali metal gets coated in a hydroxide-type gel, which causes the reaction to stop entirely (though it does restart when water is added).

With regard to sodium metal, even pure isopropyl alcohol would be comparatively inert.

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Answer 2

The size of the alkyl group in alcohol affects the vigor of its reaction with sodium metal. Generally, the larger the alkyl group, the slower and less vigorous the reaction will be. This is because larger alkyl groups create steric hindrance, making it more difficult for the alcohol molecules to approach and react with the sodium metal surface. As a result, alcohols with smaller alkyl groups tend to react more quickly and vigorously with sodium metal compared to those with larger alkyl groups.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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