Why are alcohols generally more involatile than ketones, and aldehydes?
1 Answer
Dec 31, 2015
Alcohols have hydrogen bonding available to them as an intermolecular force. Neither ketones nor aldehydes have this operating between individual molecules.
Explanation:
Hydrogen bonding occurs when hydrogen is bound to strongly electronegative atoms such as fluorine, oxygen, and nitrogen. No such intermolecular force is available for aldehydes or ketones. Alcohols should have intrinsically higher boiling points.
