Which of the following compounds has the highest boiling point?
Show Hint
The presence of hydrogen bonding generally results in higher boiling points. Alcohols usually have higher boiling points than aldehydes, ketones, and alkanes.
Step 1: Understanding the Concept
Boiling points of organic compounds are determined by the strength of intermolecular forces. In order of increasing strength: Van der Waals (hydrocarbons)<Dipole-Dipole (ethers, aldehydes, ketones)<Hydrogen bonding (alcohols, carboxylic acids). Step 2: Detailed Explanation
1. n-Butane: A non-polar hydrocarbon with only weak London dispersion forces.
2. Methoxy methane & Acetone/Propanal: These possess dipole-dipole interactions, which are stronger than dispersion forces but weaker than hydrogen bonds.
3. Propan-1-ol: Contains a polar $-OH$ group capable of forming extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding. This requires significantly more energy to break, leading to a much higher boiling point compared to the others of similar molecular mass. Step 3: Final Answer
Propan-1-ol has the highest boiling point due to hydrogen bonding.
