# Ethanol is a member of the alcohol family of compounds. Explain what happens when a small piece of sodium metal is added to a sample of ethanol, and describe how the products of this reaction can be identified.

> OCR A-Level Chemistry A (H432) — 4.2 Alcohols, haloalkanes and analysis · Explain · 5 marks

> Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) reacts with sodium metal in a similar way to how sodium reacts with water. The reaction produces a gas and a solution containing ionic products.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Sodium reacts with ethanol / a reaction takes place
2. Hydrogen gas is produced / given off
3. Sodium ethoxide (an ionic salt / sodium salt of ethanol) is also formed as a product
4. The gas can be identified by holding a lit splint to it / the squeaky pop test
5. A flame test could be used on the solution / solid residue to confirm the presence of sodium ions, giving a yellow/orange flame

## Key terms

- [alcohol](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/alcohol)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR A-Level Chemistry A (H432)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/ethanol-is-a-member-of-the-b26b6455) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.