Given below are two statements:

Assertion A: Alcohols react both as nucleophiles and electrophiles. 

Reason R: Alcohols react with active metals such as sodium, potassium and aluminum to yield corresponding alkoxides and liberate hydrogen. 

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Assertion A: Alcohols react both as nucleophiles and electrophiles. This is true. The oxygen atom with its lone pairs allows alcohols to act as nucleophiles (e.g., in Williamson ether synthesis). After protonation of the -OH group, the carbon becomes electrophilic as water becomes a good leaving group.

Reason R: Alcohols react with active metals such as sodium, potassium, and aluminum to yield corresponding alkoxides and liberate hydrogen. This is true: $$2ROH + 2Na \rightarrow 2RONa + H_2\uparrow$$.

However, the reaction with active metals demonstrates the acidic (proton-donating) nature of alcohols, not their dual nucleophilic/electrophilic behavior. Therefore, R is not the correct explanation of A.

The answer is Option D: Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.