What do you observe when you drop a piece of sodium into ethanol? Name the gas evolved. How do you test this gas? Write the chemical equation for the reaction.

Explanation

When a piece of sodium metal is dropped in ethanol, it reacts vigorously with the evolution of hydrogen gas. sodium + ethanol → sodium ethoxide + hydrogen
`2Na_((s)) + 2C_2 H_5 OH_((l)) to 2C_2 H_5ONa_((l)) + H_(2(g))`
Hydrogen gas can be tested by exposing a burning matchstick to the gas, hydrogen burns with a pop sound and puts off the match stick.