Multiple Choice
Which of the following compounds has the highest boiling point at 1 atm?
5
views
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties
Struggling with General Chemistry?
Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Which compound has the highest boiling point (at )?
A
(acetic acid)
B
(butane)
C
(ethanol)
D
(water)
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the types of intermolecular forces present in each compound: butane (C\4H\10), ethanol (CH\3CH\2OH), water (H\2O), and acetic acid (CH\3COOH).
Recall that butane is a nonpolar molecule and primarily exhibits London dispersion forces, which are the weakest intermolecular forces among the options.
Recognize that ethanol and water are polar molecules capable of hydrogen bonding, which is a strong intermolecular force that significantly raises boiling points compared to dispersion forces alone.
Understand that acetic acid (CH\3COOH) can form strong hydrogen bonds and also exhibits dimerization through hydrogen bonding, effectively increasing its molecular size and intermolecular attractions.
Compare the strength of intermolecular forces: butane (dispersion only) < ethanol (hydrogen bonding) < water (strong hydrogen bonding) < acetic acid (hydrogen bonding plus dimer formation), leading to acetic acid having the highest boiling point at 1 atm.
3:13mWatch next
Master Intermolecular Forces and Properties with a bite sized video explanation from Jules
Start learningRelated Videos
Related Practice
Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties practice set
Problem sets built by lead tutorsExpert video explanations