Question
Chemistry Question on Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
Decreasing order of boiling points among ethanol, butan-1-ol, butan-2-ol and methanol is
A
methanol > ethanol > butan-2-ol > butan-1-ol
B
butan-2-ol > butan-1-ol > ethanol > methanol
C
ethanol > methanol > butan-1-ol > butan-2-ol
D
butan-1-ol > butan-2-ol > ethanol > methanol.
Answer
butan-1-ol > butan-2-ol > ethanol > methanol.
Explanation
Solution
In alcohols, the boiling points increase with increase in the number of carbon atoms due to increase in van der Waals forces. On the other hand it decreases with increase in branching because of decrease in van der Waals forces with decrease in surface area.