Why is #"o-nitrophenol"# steam volatile, whereas #"p-nitrophenol"# is much more involatile?

1 Answer
Nov 22, 2017

Look at the definition of steam volatile...

Explanation:

And we might point to #"o-nitrophenol"# as a molecule that #"hydrogen bonds intramolecularly"# rather than #"intermolecularly"#. And so our prediction, #"o-nitrophenol"# WILL be MORE volatile than #"p-nitrophenol"# because of #"intramolecular hydrogen-bonding"# in the former, which increases volatility by reducing #"INTERMOLECULAR FORCE"#.

You will have to examine the melting points and boiling points of the 2 substances to see whether the prediction is true.