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Alcohols react with active metals e.g., $\mathrm{Na}, \mathrm{K}$ etc., to give corresponding alkoxides. Write down the decreasing order of reactivity of sodium metal towards primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.
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Alcohols are acidic in nature while sodium metal is basic in nature. The reactivity of alcohol with sodium metal decreases with decrease in acidic strength of alcohol. The order of acidic strength of alcohol is as follows
$1^{\circ}$ alcohol $>2^{\circ}$ alcohol $>3^{\circ}$ alcohol
Therefore, the correct order of reactivity of sodium metal towards these alcohols will be as follows:
$1^{\circ}$ alcohol $>2^{\circ}$ alcohol $>3^{\circ}$ alcohol
$1^{\circ}$ alcohol $>2^{\circ}$ alcohol $>3^{\circ}$ alcohol
Therefore, the correct order of reactivity of sodium metal towards these alcohols will be as follows:
$1^{\circ}$ alcohol $>2^{\circ}$ alcohol $>3^{\circ}$ alcohol
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