Alcohols react with active metals e.g., Na, K etc., to give corresponding alkoxides. Write down the decreasing order of reactivity of sodium metal towards primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.

Explanation

Alkyl groups have +I-effect. As the number of alkyl groups increases from 1 to 2 3 in going from `1^(@)` to `2^(@)` to `3^(@)` alcohols, the electron density in the O-H bond increases and the bond becomes stronger and stronger. In other words, acidic character of alcohols decreases from `1^(@)` to `2^(@)gt3^(@)`

Since Na metal is basiic and alcohols are acidic in nature, therefore, reactivity of Na metal towads alcohols decreases as the acidic strenth of alcohols decreases, i.e., in the order: `1^(@) gt 2^(@) gt 3^(@)`