What is sodium ethoxide?

Sodium ethoxide is an organic compound with a white, hygroscopic powder but sometimes colorless appearance. This compound can be written using its molecular formula, C2H5ONa.

When dissolved in water, sodium ethoxide breaks down or decomposes into two polar solvents. The polar solvents are sodium hydroxide and alcohol. Sodium ethoxide is commonly used in organic synthesis as a strong base. Since sodium ethoxide is a very strong base, it is considered to be corrosive. Sodium ethoxide can be prepared in a laboratory to form a salt product. The resulting salt product is purified by precipitating the product in a anhydrous acetone solution.