The boiling point of ethyl alcohol should be less than that of

Options

A. Propane
B. Formic acid
C. Dimethyl ether
D. None of the above.

Explanation

To determine which compound has a higher boiling point than ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH), we will analyze the boiling points of the given options: propane, formic acid, dimethyl ether, and none of the above.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Structure of Ethyl Alcohol**:
- Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, has the chemical formula C2H5OH. It consists of a two-carbon chain with a hydroxyl (–OH) group, which allows it to form hydrogen bonds.

2. **Analyze the Boiling Points of the Given Compounds**:
- **Propane (C3H8)**: Propane is a simple alkane that does not have a hydroxyl group and cannot form hydrogen bonds. Its boiling point is lower than that of ethyl alcohol.
- **Formic Acid (HCOOH)**: Formic acid contains both a hydroxyl group and a carbonyl group (C=O). The presence of two oxygen atoms allows for stronger hydrogen bonding compared to ethyl alcohol, leading to a higher boiling point.
- **Dimethyl Ether (CH3OCH3)**: Dimethyl ether is an ether and, while it has an oxygen atom, it does not have a hydroxyl group to form hydrogen bonds like alcohols do. Therefore, its boiling point is lower than that of ethyl alcohol.

3. **Compare the Boiling Points**:
- Based on the analysis:
- Ethyl alcohol has a higher boiling point than propane.
- Ethyl alcohol has a lower boiling point than formic acid due to the stronger hydrogen bonding in formic acid.
- Ethyl alcohol has a higher boiling point than dimethyl ether.

4. **Conclusion**:
- The boiling point of ethyl alcohol should be less than that of formic acid. Therefore, the correct answer is **option B: formic acid**.