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.

Related questions
See all questions in Intermolecular Forces of Attraction
Impact of this question
6042 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License