How do you make sense of acid base reactions in organic chemistry?
The answer to both questions lies in the fact that a reaction can be directed to a certain extent by controlling the concentration of the reagents.  The first reaction is perfectly fine since an alkoxide ion is more basic than a hydroxide ion. As for the second reaction, a carbon attached to an electronegative element is quite acidic. Hence is capable of possessing a negative charge. This along with the excess amount of water we supply for this reaction and the fact that water is neutral in nature adds to the reaction progressing in the forward direction. 

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