Reaction of alcohol and phenol with Metals
Alcohols and phenols react with highly electropositive alkali metals such as sodium, potassium etc to yield corresponding alkoxides/phenoxides and hydrogen. 2 R - OH + 2 Na ---------> 2 RONa (Sodium alkoxide) + H 2 2 C 2 H 5 OH + 2 Na ----------> 2 C 2 H 5 ONa (Sodium ethoxide)+ H 2 Related post Chemical properties of Alcohols and Phenols