Why does Ethyl Alcohol show high boiling point then Acetone?

Correct answer: A. Due to Hydrogen bonding

  • A. Due to Hydrogen bonding
  • B. Due to high molecular weight
  • C. Due to its Acidic nature
  • D. Due to its Low molecular weight

Explanation

Ethanol molecules form hydrogen bonds through the O-H group, so more energy is needed to separate them into vapour than in acetone, whose carbonyl oxygen accepts hydrogen bonds but cannot donate them. The likely mistake is high molecular weight, but ethanol and acetone have similar molar masses, so hydrogen bonding is the important difference.

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About Hydrogen Bonding

Hydrogen bonding is the strong attraction between hydrogen attached to nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine and an electronegative atom in the same or another molecule. It explains unusual boiling points, viscosity, surface tension, water's properties and the difference between intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding.

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