Answer:
Both Na and Ca react with water to
form their respective hydroxides. On the other hand, Na readily reacts with
alcohol to form sodium ethoxide but Ca reacts only very slowly. Thus, when Ca
is used, it will react more readily with water than with alcohol.
\[2{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH+2\,Na\xrightarrow{\,}\,2\,{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}ONa+{{H}_{2}}\]
Therefore, Ca is preferred over
Na to remove the last traces of moisture from alcohol.
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