Final answer:
Hydroxide can react with ethyl iodide to produce ethanol, particularly under conditions that promote SN2 reactions, such as the presence of a strong nucleophile and a primary alkyl halide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether hydroxide reacts with ethyl iodide. Generally, the reaction of an alkyl halide, like ethyl iodide, with an inorganic hydroxide base can indeed occur. At an elevated temperature, this type of reaction typically yields an alcohol. In the case of ethyl iodide, the inorganic hydroxide would perform a nucleophilic substitution to form ethanol.
Considering this, hydroxide ions can react with ethyl iodide, especially under conditions favorable to SN2 reactions, which include a strong nucleophile (hydroxide ion) and a primary alkyl halide (ethyl iodide).
Example Reaction
To provide a specific example, when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) reacts with iodomethane (methyl iodide), methanol is produced. Therefore, it is reasonable to anticipate that a similar reaction would occur with ethyl iodide to produce ethanol.