Why is the boiling point of ethanol greater than the boiling point of ethane?
A) because ethanol is nonpolar, whereas ethane is polar
B) because unlike ethane, ethanol contains nonpolar covalent bonds
C) because unlike ethane, ethanol contains hydrogen bonds
D) because ethanol is aromatic, whereas ethane is aliphatic

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The boiling point of a compound is influenced by the strength of its intermolecular forces. Ethanol contains hydrogen bonding, which is a strong intermolecular force, whereas ethane only contains weak London dispersion forces. Therefore, ethanol has a higher boiling point than ethane. A is incorrect because ethanol is polar due to the presence of the hydroxyl group. B is incorrect because both ethanol and ethane contain nonpolar covalent bonds. D is incorrect because neither ethanol nor ethane is aromatic.

Why Is the Boiling Point of Ethanol Greater Than the Boiling