Whenever we add Na or Zn metal to a ketone, why does the electron prefer to attack the carbonyl bond and form a radical, instead of removing the acidic hydrogen and forming an enolate and $\ce{H2}$ gas?
I was thinking that usually when we add Na and there is a sufficiently acidic Hydrogen present, it reacts and releases $\ce{H2}$. I just wanted to know if there is an advantage in attacking the carbonyl bond instead of an acid-base reaction. Also, is this dependent on kinetic or thermodynamic control.