Abstract
In the reaction of sodium with alcohols an electron is generated without the formation of other reactive products. This, therefore, provides an excellent system to study the reactions of the electrons with themselves, with the solvent, and with added scavengers. A mathematical treatment for such formation and reaction has been derived.Evidence for a bimolecular electron reaction was investigated by observing the formation of D2 in the reaction of sodium with ethanol-d1 or methanol-d1, via reaction[Formula: see text]A calculated rate constant for this reaction in ethanol at 25 °C, k = (5 ± 4) × 109 M−1 s−1, similar to that observed for the equivalent reaction in water, is obtained. An isotope effect (α = 2) for the above reaction in both ethanol and methanol is observed. This would indicate the formation of an electron dimer (e−)2 as an intermediate in the formation of hydrogen as has been suggested for the equivalent reaction in water.
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