Sodium ethoxide is a chemical compound. It has the chemical formula C2H5ONa, sometimes shortened to NaOEt. It is the alkoxide of sodium and ethanol. It is used as a source of the ethoxide anion, C2H5O−, a strong base that is used to make many different chemicals.
Sodium ethoxide is made in a chemical reaction between sodium metal and anhydrous (water-free) ethanol.
Sodium ethoxide's chemistry is similar to other alkoxides. It is used in many different types of reaction in organic synthesis, normally as either a base or nucleophile. Sodium ethoxide and sodium methoxide are some of the most commonly used alkoxides.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link).