What is the boiling point trend among alcohols, ethers, and alkanes?
Correct Answer: Alcohols have higher boiling points than ethers and alkanes.
- Step 1: Understand what boiling point means. It is the temperature at which a liquid turns into vapor.
- Step 2: Know the three types of compounds we are comparing: alcohols, ethers, and alkanes.
- Step 3: Learn that alcohols contain an -OH (hydroxyl) group, which allows them to form hydrogen bonds.
- Step 4: Recognize that hydrogen bonds are strong attractions between molecules, which require more energy (heat) to break.
- Step 5: Understand that ethers have an -O- (ether) group but do not form hydrogen bonds as strongly as alcohols.
- Step 6: Realize that alkanes are made of carbon and hydrogen only and do not have any functional groups that can form hydrogen bonds.
- Step 7: Compare the boiling points: since alcohols can form hydrogen bonds, they have higher boiling points than ethers and alkanes.
- Step 8: Conclude that the trend is: Alcohols > Ethers > Alkanes in terms of boiling points.
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