Question
Arrange the following sets of compounds in order of their increasing boiling points:
Penta-1-ol, n-butane, pentanal, ethoxyethane.
Solution
Pentan-1-ol molecules are associated with extensive hydrogen bonding, therefore, the boiling point of pentan-1-ol would be highest. Pentanal is more polar than ethoxyethane. Therefore, the intermolecular dipole -dipole attraction is stronger in the former. n-butane is have only weak vander waals forces. Hence increasing order of boiling points of the given compounds is as follows:
n-Butane< ethoxyethane< pentanal< penta-1-ol.
n-Butane< ethoxyethane< pentanal< penta-1-ol.
