Convert the following :(i) Ethanol into sodium ethoxide.(ii) Phenol into o-phenol sulfonic acid.(iii) Bromomethane into methoxyethane.

Answer:

(i) Ethanol reacts with sodium metal, liberating hydrogen:

2C₂H₅OH + 2Na → 2C₂H₅ONa (sodium ethoxide) + H₂↑

(ii) Phenol is sulfonated with concentrated sulfuric acid at room temperature (about 288–293 K); the ortho isomer is the main product at low temperature (at 373 K the para isomer is major):

C₆H₅OH + conc. H₂SO₄ —(288–293 K)→ o-HO–C₆H₄–SO₃H (o-phenolsulfonic acid, 2-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid) + H₂O

(iii) Williamson synthesis: bromomethane is heated with sodium ethoxide:

CH₃Br + C₂H₅ONa —(heat)→ CH₃–O–C₂H₅ (methoxyethane) + NaBr