Question

Explain, why are boiling points of carboxylic acids higher than corresponding alcohols

Answer 1

The boiling points of carboxylic acids are higher than the corresponding alcohols because

• Carboxylic acids have a high boiling point because of their ability to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds.
• Hydrogen bonds formed in carboxylic acids are stronger than those in alcohols.
• The –OH bond in –COOH is more strongly polarised than the –OH bond of alcohols. This is because of the presence of an electron-withdrawing carboxyl group in an adjacent position in carboxylic acids.