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doggbAT
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Homework Statement
The boiling points (ºC) of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, and 1-pentanol are 64.7, 78.5, 97.2, 117 to 118, 137.5, respectively. The melting points are -97.8, -114.1, -1277.0, -90.0, and -79.0, respectively. Explain these trends with reference to molecular structure.
Homework Equations
N/A
The Attempt at a Solution
The bonds in alcohols are hydrogen-carbon bonds and the carbon-hydroxyl bonds. By looking at the H-C bond, one can understand that the H end is partially positive. In the hydroxyl group, the O is partially negative, and has two pairs of electrons, making it quite negative.