Question

Arrange the following in the increasing order of their boiling points : C₂H₅OH, CH₃ − CHO, CH₃ − COOH

Answer 1

Due to extensive hydrogen bonding, carboxylic acids have the highest boiling points among the given compounds. Alcohols, with smaller number of hydrogen bonds, have lesser boiling point. Aldehydes have the least boiling point due to the absence of hydrogen bonding.

Hence, in the increasing order of boiling points, the compounds can be arranged as follows :-

CH₃-CHO < C₂H₅OH < CH₃-COOH