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Separate Chemistry · Paper 2 · Foundation + Higher · C7

Alcohol reactions: sodium, combustion and oxidation

Key ideas1 of 3

Reaction with sodium

The first four alcohols react with sodium to produce hydrogen gas and a sodium-containing compound called an alkoxide. Bubbles show that gas is forming; hydrogen gives a squeaky pop with a lit splint when tested appropriately in a supervised laboratory. The reaction is not the same as simply dissolving sodium. You need to describe the observations and products, but balanced alcohol–sodium equations are not required.

Three labelled ethanol samples with treatment and observations.

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Practice, downloads and sources

Daily 5 · Exam practice · Revision sheet ↓

Foundation + Higher · C7. Use alongside the shared C7 lessons.

AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 · 4.7.2.3. Original notes, questions and diagrams. Models are simplified; teaching data are illustrative.