QJEEM24Ch5831: JEE Main 2024 Chemistry - Class 12 JEEM24Ch5831 Solution: Which among the followng has highest boiling point?

To predict the boiling point of these compounds, we need to consider the types of intermolecular forces present in each molecule. These intermolecular forces include van der Waals forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and hydrogen bonding.

The compounds given are:

• Option A : Butanol ( $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_2-\mathrm{OH}$ ) - a primary alcohol


• Option B : Butane ( $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_3$ ) - an alkane


• Option C : Butyraldehyde ( $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CHO}$ ) - an aldehyde


• Option D : Diethyl ether ( $\mathrm{H}_5 \mathrm{C}_2-\mathrm{O}-\mathrm{C}_2 \mathrm{H}_5$ ) - an ether

Now let's analyze each one:

Option A: Butanol is capable of hydrogen bonding because it has an $\mathrm{-OH}$ group. Hydrogen bonding is the strongest intermolecular force among the forces affecting these molecules. Therefore, butanol will have the highest boiling point among the compounds without considering the others.

Option B: Butane only has van der Waals forces because it is a non-polar molecule. Van der Waals forces are the weakest intermolecular forces, resulting in a lower boiling point compared to molecules that can hydrogen bond or have permanent dipoles.

Option C: Butyraldehyde can form dipole-dipole interactions because of its polar carbonyl ( $\mathrm{C=O}$ ) group, but it cannot form hydrogen bonds with itself since there is no $\mathrm{OH}$ group. Dipole-dipole interactions are stronger than van der Waals forces but weaker than hydrogen bonds. As a result, butyraldehyde will have a higher boiling point than butane but a lower boiling point than butanol.

Option D: Diethyl ether has an oxygen atom, which makes it polar and enables dipole-dipole interactions. However, ethers cannot form hydrogen bonds with themselves, so diethyl ether will have a higher boiling point than butane but lower than butanol.

Considering the intermolecular forces, the compound with the highest boiling point is the one that can form hydrogen bonds, which in this list is the primary alcohol, butanol.

Therefore, the compound with the highest boiling point is:

Option A : Butanol ( $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_2-\mathrm{OH}$ ).