What is the force of intermolecular attraction that operates in ethanol?

1 Answer
anor277
May 26, 2017

The dominant intermolecular force that operates in ethanol is #"hydrogen bonding."#

Explanation:

The normal boiling point of ethane, #H_3C-CH_3#, is #-89# #""^@#. The normal boiling point of ethanol, #H_3C-CH_3#, is #78.1# #""^@#. As in water, hydrogen bonding occurs between the protic hydrogen and the electronegative oxygen atoms on adjacent ethanol molecules, i.e. #H_3C-CH_2O^(delta-)-H^(delta+)#, and this constitutes a potent intermolecular force.

See here for another description of the phenomenon.

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