[en] Investigations were carried out with an attempt to study direct synthesis of metal alkoxides from elemental metals and appropriate alcohols. These were done by reacting representative metals of group I, II, III 7 IV (which are Na, Mg, Al and Sn respectively) directly with dry ethanol and dry isopropanol. The products were then analysed by infrared spectrophotometer to meter to identify metal alkoxides formed. Ethanol was found to have more acidic character in reactions with these metals than isopropanol, thus its reactions with the metals were faster. Reduction in the acidic character of isopropanol, a secondary alcohol, could be due to the existence off more alkyl groups in the molecule which displays +1 inductive effect. For the same alcohol the metals reactions were found to decrease with increase in electronegativity of the metals. Sodium being the least electronegative metal reacted fasted while tin the more electronegative metal reacted slowest. Mg, Al and Sn required a catalyst,, mercury (II) chloride and heat in order to initiate and drive the reactions completion. The alkoxides formed were found to be soluble to a certain extent in the tow alcohols and the order of solubility is such that Sn≥ Al ≥ Mg ≥ Na.(Author)