Sodium ethoxide Chemical Properties

Melting point:

260 °C

Boiling point:

91°C

Density 

0.868 g/mL at 25 °C

vapor density 

1.6 (vs air)

vapor pressure 

<0.1 mm Hg ( 20 °C)

refractive index 

n20/D 1.386

Flash point:

48 °F

storage temp. 

Store at +15°C to +25°C.

solubility 

Soluble in ethanol and methanol.

form 

Liquid

Specific Gravity

0.868

color 

Yellow to brown

PH

13 (5g/l, H2O, 20℃)

Water Solubility 

Miscible

Sensitive 

Moisture Sensitive

Hydrolytic Sensitivity

7: reacts slowly with moisture/water

Merck 

14,8539

BRN 

3593646

Exposure limits

ACGIH: STEL 1000 ppm
OSHA: TWA 1000 ppm(1900 mg/m3)
NIOSH: IDLH 3300 ppm; TWA 1000 ppm(1900 mg/m3)

Stability:

Reacts violently with acids, water. Incompatible with chlorinated solvents, moisture. Absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. Highly flammable.

CAS DataBase Reference

141-52-6(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Ethanol, sodium salt (141-52-6)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

F,C,Xi,N

Risk Statements 

11-14-34-36/37/38-68/20/21/22-51/53-20/21/22

Safety Statements 

8-16-26-43-45-36/37/39-36-61

RIDADR 

UN 3274 3/PG 2

WGK Germany 

1

F 

3-8-10-23

Autoignition Temperature

30 - 50 °C

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

4.2

PackingGroup 

II

HS Code 

29051900

Hazardous Substances Data

141-52-6(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 orally in Rabbit: 598 mg/kg

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:Sodium ethoxide
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Sodium ethoxide Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

White powder, sometimes having brownish tinge; readily hydrolyzes to alcohol and sodium hydroxide.

Physical properties

White or yellowish powder; hygroscopic; darkens and decomposes on exposure to air; decomposes in water forming sodium hydroxide and ethanol; dissolves in absolute ethanol.

Uses

Sodium ethoxide is used in organic synthesis for condensation reactions. It also is a catalyst in many organic reactions.

Uses

Sodium ethoxide, 21% w/w in ethanol is used as a strong base in organic synthesis. It finds application in various chemical reactions such as condensation, esterification, alkoxylation and etherifcation. It is actively involved in Claisen condensation, Stobbe reaction and Wolf-kishner reduction. It is an important starting material for the synthesis of ethyl ester and diethyl ester of malonic acid. In Williamson ether synthesis, it reacts with ethyl bromide to form diethyl ether.

Definition

ChEBI: An organic monosodium salt that has ethoxide as the counterion.

Preparation

Sodium ethoxide is prepared by reacting sodium with absolute ethanol:
2Na + 2C2H5OH → 2C2H5ONa + H2
Sodium in small quantities is added to absolute alcohol at 10°C. The temperature is raised to warming (to about 38°C). The mixture is cooled again and sodium and absolute alcohol are added gradually followed by careful warming. The process is repeated to obtain a sufficient yield of the p

General Description

Sodium ethoxide is an alkoxide salt mainly used as a strong base in organic reactions such as deprotonation, dehydration and dehalogenation.

Hazard

As for caustic soda, ethanol. Sodium hydroxide is formed when sodium ethylate is exposed to moisture.

Flammability and Explosibility

Highly flammable

Purification Methods

It is a hygroscopic powder which should be stored under N2 in a cool place. A likely impurity is EtOH which can be removed by warming at 60-80o under high vacuum. It is hydrolysed by H2O to yield NaOH and EtOH. Other impurities, if kept in air for long periods are NaOH and Na2CO3. In this case the powder cannot be used if these impurities affect the reactivity, and a fresh sample should be acquired [IR: Seubold J Org Chem 21 156 1956]. [Beilstein 1 H 311, 1 IV 1289.]

Sodium ethoxide(141-52-6)Related Product Information

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• Sodium citrate
• Sodium benzoate
• Sodium sulfate
• Sodium acetate
• Sodium chlorite
• Sodium hydroxide
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• Sodium bicarbonate
• Ethanol
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