Ethyl alcohol has much higher boiling point than ether because

Options

A. molecular weight of ether is higher
B. molecular weight of alcohol is lower
C. of hydrogen bonding between the molecules of alcohol
D. molecular weight of alcohol is higher

Answer

To address the question of why ethyl alcohol has a much higher boiling point than ether, we can break down the reasoning step by step:

### Step 1: Identify the Structures
- Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) has the chemical formula C₂H₅OH, which can also be represented as CH₃CH₂OH.
- Ether, specifically dimethyl ether, has the chemical formula CH₃OCH₃.

### Step 2: Compare Molecular Formulas
- Both ethyl alcohol and dimethyl ether have the same molecular formula (C₂H₆O), meaning they have the same number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

### Step 3: Understand Boiling Point Factors
- The boiling point of a substance is influenced by the types of intermolecular forces present. Common forces include hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces.

### Step 4: Analyze Intermolecular Forces
- Ethyl alcohol can form hydrogen bonds due to the presence of the hydroxyl (-OH) group. This allows for strong intermolecular attractions between alcohol molecules.
- Dimethyl ether, on the other hand, cannot form hydrogen bonds because it lacks an -OH group. The primary intermolecular forces in ether are weaker dipole-dipole interactions and London dispersion forces.

### Step 5: Conclusion on Boiling Points
- The presence of strong hydrogen bonding in ethyl alcohol leads to a significantly higher boiling point compared to dimethyl ether, which lacks such bonding.

### Step 6: Evaluate Answer Options
- Option A: Molecular weight of ether is higher - Incorrect, as both have the same molecular formula.
- Option B: Molecular weight of alcohol is lower - Incorrect, same reason as above.
- Option C: Hydrogen bonding between the molecules of alcohol - Correct, as hydrogen bonding significantly raises the boiling point.
- Option D: Molecular weight of alcohol is higher - Incorrect, same reason as above.

### Final Answer
The correct answer is **Option C: of hydrogen bonding between the molecules of alcohol**.

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