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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.

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All the alkyl groups exhibit the (+I) effect and with an increasing number of alkyl groups from Primary, secondary to tertiary alcohols, the -OH bond strength of increases due to elevation in the electron density. There is a low reactivity of sodium with tertiary alcohol due to steric hindrance and difference in nature. So, the correct decreasing order sodium metal reactivity towards alcohol is Primary alcohols > secondary alcohols > tertiary alcohols.

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