Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers -Solutions

1) Explain why propanol has higher boiling points than that of the hydrocarbon, butane?

Solution:

Higher boiling point of propanol in comparison to that of butane is due to the presence of intermolecular H-bonding among molecules of propanol while butane lacks the ability to form hydrogen bond, due to the absence of –OH group. In butane only weak van der Waal’s forces exist as intermolecular forces between the molecules.

2) Alcohols are comparatively more soluble in water than hydrocarbons of comparable molecular masses. Explain this fact.