Ethanol to Sodium acetate | CH₃CH₂OH to CH₃COONa

Ethanol can be converted to sodium acetate from several steps. Ethanol is converted to acetic acid and then it reacts with sodium hydroxide to prepare sodium acetate. Ethanol is an alcohol with two carbon atoms and sodium acetate is the sodium salt of acetic acid.

Preparation of sodium acetate from ethanol

Ethanol, a common chemical can be found easily in the laboratory. As the first step, ethanol is oxidized to acetic acid by acidic potassium permanganate. As well as, simultaneously permanganate ion is reduced to manganese +2 ion. So, you have to recover, acetic acid from this solution.

CH₃CH₂OH + MnO₄^- → CH₃COOH + Mn²⁺

For oxidation, acidic potassium dichromate or acidic potassium chromate can be used.

CH₃COOH + NaOH → CH₃COO^-Na⁺ + H₂O

After oxidation, acetic acid reacts with sodium hydroxide to prepare sodium acetate. As sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate can be used to react with acetic acid to prepare sodium acetate.

CH₃COOH + Na₂CO₃ → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂

CH₃COOH + NaHCO₃ → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂

In those two reactions, carbon dioxide gas is emitted as a by-product.

Sodium hydroxide and acetic acid reaction is a strong base - weak acid reaction.

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